CHENNAI: Grace Cancer Foundation hosted its second annual fundraiser music concert, on Saturday at Hotel Daspalla. The foundation works to support the poor and hapless cancer patients. SAASS Music band, the official music group of foundation, comprising school kids Soumya Peri, Samyuktha Kolluru, Adviteeya Vojjala, Anusha V Kumar and Sathvika Kolluru, under the guidance of their teacher Sasikala Swamy of Lakshmana chary Memorial College of Music, presented some mellifluous music enthralling the audience. Chief Guest and actor Lavanya Tripathi, Guest of Honour and noted Singer Vande Mataram Srinivas and Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli, Founder, Grace Cancer Foundation, were also present on the occasion.
The students came forward last year to raise funds to aid poor cancer patients through a music concert. Their initiative enabled them to mobilise Rs 5.5 lakh which was directed towards economically deprived cancer patients. Seeing their ability to touch lives the foundation’s Founder Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli appointed them as the official music band of the foundation last year.
“Conducting the second fundraiser for Grace Cancer Foundation has been an inspiring experience once again for me and my friends,” says Soumya Peri, a student of Oakridge International School, who started this idea of fundraisers last year and continued the tradition again this year. This initiative of Grace Cancer Foundation has great significance considering the rising incidence of cancer. Approximately 15 lakh cases of cancer are newly detected every year. Breast and cervical cancers are the top two killers among women.