Bravehearts to celebrate never-say-die spirit

Cancer survivors day Survivors and children undergoing treatment for the disease to perform at the Government Home Science College today.

It's a day to celebrate their spirit of living and what better way to express it than through song and dance. Yes, the cancer survivors are all set to put their best foot forward for the grand celebrations on Saturday organised by the Sahayta Cancer Sahyog to observe Cancer Survivors Day.

The day will also showcase the talents of little children undergoing treatment at the Paediatrics Oncology wing of the PGIMER fighting the deadly cancer even as their poor parents nurture hope that one day they will get the financial help for their treatment, from the government.

Nevertheless, a day before the final event at the Government Home Science College on Friday, the young cancer- fighters rehearse with their never say die spirit for a special performance for commemorating the Cancer Survivors' Day and the International Childhood Cancer Day to be held on Saturday.

While watching his daughter dance with a green mask on her face, Bhagwat Khushwaha, a labourer from Ferozepur said: "My daughter had an 850- gram tumor in her stomach and is currently undergoing Chemotherapy. We tried to avail help from the Punjab Government under their policy meant for the cancer patients. We even filled the required form around 20 days ago but our grant has not been sanctioned yet."

"My son has blood cancer and we have already spent around Rs 1 lakh on his treatment and he needs treatment for another three-and-a-half years and we do not have adequate funds to support his medication. We still haven't received any help from the government, we applied for it in the past and are still waiting for it" said Suman, mother of Yash, an 8- year old cancer patient whose father is a fruit vendor in the Sirsal village of the Kaithal district in Haryana.

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