KOCHI: Canserve Society, an agency working for the welfare of cancer patients, organised a walkathon in the city on Sunday for creating awareness on the disease.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life, including students; Canserve volunteers; representative of non-governmental organisations; staff of Aster Medcity and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Navy officials, participated in the event. The walkathon was flagged off jointly by cricketer Sreesanth and actor Sai Pallavi.
The inaugural function was presided over by Hibi Eden MLA, and K V Thomas MP was the chief guest.
“Society should extend moral support to cancer patients, instead of showing sympathy towards them,” said K V Thomas.
“For cancer patients, moral support is as important as medical treatment,” said Sai Pallavi.
Anwar Sadath MLA, Deputy Mayor B Bhadra, renowned cardiac surgeon Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram and Aster Medcity CEO Dr Harish Pillai, among others, were also present at the function. Oncologists Dr Vijayakumar and Dr Mohan Nair conducted classes on cancer. Canserve Society president Kala Joymon and secretary Suja Nair delivered the welcome speech and vote of thanks, respectively.The walkathon started at 7:30 am at Durbar Hall Ground and concluded at the same venue, after covering Gandhi Square, Maharaja’s College, Law College and St Teresa’s College.
Students of St Teresa’s college presented a ‘flash mob’ in the concluding session of the event. On the occasion, Sai Pallavi inaugurated the Ask Foundation under Aster Medcity.