Walking ramp for cancer awareness

Bhubaneswar: This is a walk with a difference. Or, for a cause. About 300 people, including cancer survivors, cine stars and eminent social figures, walked the ramp at Ekamra Haat in Bhubaneswar, Sunday, to raise awareness among people about cancer. Organised by Umeedein, the main purpose of the walk is to save many valuable lives through awareness and convey a message to the public that cancer is beatable. The show was also aimed at boosting the morale of those who are fighting the dreaded disease.

The organisers gave a memorandum to Latika Pradhan, Orissa Welfare Society Chairperson, in which they asked the government to make bus service for poor cancer patients free. Umeedein members said that they have found in a survey they conducted in the village area of the city that there are many myths and misconceptions about cancer. Such ignorance
is leading to late detection of cancer among people. Many patients visit the doctor at an advanced stage of the disease where it is impossible to save the person’s life. The common cause of death in the state is oral, breast and cervical cancer. On the occasion, many celebrities such as Odissi dancer Saswat Joshi, veteran actor Mihir Das, actress Pinky Pradhan and social activists Namrata Chadha, Sadhana Mishra, Rina Routray, Latika Pradhan and others walked the ramp along with cancer survivors.

Namrata Chadha said that awareness about the disease is necessary. The group at present is working in 17 villages of Nimapara area where they facilitate treatment for under privileged cancer patients. “We are planning to prepare a survey report of the cancer patients in the state and will submit it to the government,” the group said.