Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
Advika Care Foundation & Prakriya Hospital organised walkathon to raise awareness against Cancer
BENGALURU: Thousands of people raised their voices and joined hands in the fight against cancer during the walkathon 2.0 against cancer organised by Advika Foundation and Prakriya Hospital on Sunday. The walkathon began from Vidhana Soudha and culminated at Bal Bhavan where even the Cancer survivors shared their inspiring stories of their fight against cancer.
Speaking at the event, SE Sudheendra, Chairman, Karnataka State Bioenergy Development Board, emphasised the importance of such initiatives. “We are witnessing a rise in cancer cases every day. This event received an overwhelming response from Bengalureans. We must all support the cause to work towards a cancer-free Bengaluru, Karnataka, and India,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of early detection and advanced Cancer treatment, Dr. Srinivas Chirukuri, CEO of Prakriya Hospitals said, “Cancer is curable if detected earlier and cancer survivors are leading a healthy lifestyle. In fact, during the event, many cancer survivors who were treated 10 to 15 years ago are now leading healthy lives, proving that early detection can save lives. We urge people to undergo regular health check-ups, adopt lifestyle modifications, eat right, and seek timely medical intervention. With advanced technology and specialised treatments, we can fight cancer effectively. There is no need to panic but focus on prevention is must,” he stated.
Emphasising the focus on the fight against cancer, Rajshree Warrier, Chief Administrative Officer of Advika Care Foundation said, “We walked against cancer to spread awareness. Our goal is to provide free treatment for 100 patients, and we are actively raising funds. The overwhelming participation of 1,200 people, including cancer survivors and volunteers, was heartening. More such awareness programs are planned in the coming months,” she added.
Bala Warrier, Trustee of Advika Foundation said, “Bengaluru woke up on Sunday to create awareness against Cancer. The motto of this programme is to focus on prevention, cure and after care support. We were thrilled with the large turnout. We hope to continue this all important message with many more such events lined up for the future.”
The event also saw participation from biker groups, students, and healthcare professionals. Chetan, President of a local bike club, said, “Regular health check-ups and the right health insurance are crucial. Today, we have excellent doctors and advanced medical facilities for Cancer treatment. Yet, the focus should be on timely detection. During the walkathon, it was inspiring to see students actively participate and help spread awareness.” Advika Foundation and Prakriya Hospital have been at the forefront of cancer awareness initiatives, recently organizing a bikeathon to further their cause.