Battle against cancer won,children paint a future to share joy,trauma

Radhika’s is a story of hundreds of child cancer survivors.

Children from various schools across the city came together on Saturday to express their solidarity with many such child cancer survivors. Muskaan Anand,10,from Delhi Public School-Gurgaon said she felt “very happy” to be with the survivors. “It is good to share time with them,” she said,handing clay to one of the children.

Guneet Ohri,the school headmistress,said,“Our school has organised a paper craft competition for the survivors.”

Having survived cancer,falling out of schools and battling discrimination,among others,almost every child survivor had a story to tell at the children’s carnival at the first Indian Childhood Cancer Survivor Conference held at AIIMS. To remove these barriers,the children’s carnival aims to create a “bond between cancer survivors,cancer patients and the society”.

Malika,Prarthana,Noor — all Class XII students from Vasant Valley School — were helping the children make block prints on a piece of cloth. “It helps them to express their feelings. We live in a world of our own — this is a way to reach out to them,” said Malika.

Students from DPS-RK Puram,had a group of boys strumming guitars and playing the piano. “It is a great opportunity to contribute in any way to their lives,even if it means brief moments of happiness,” said Ish Raheja,a student.

Besides the survivors,patients,their parents,doctors,donors and volunteers were also present at the event.

On a positive note,Dr Rachna Seth,Head of Oncology department at AIIMS,said: “The child cancer survival rate is increasing. It is curable if diagnosed at the right time.”

The children’s carnival was part of the three-day event organised by CanKids KidsCan,a family support group enabling children with cancer and their families. It is a unit of the Indian Cancer Society,Delhi.

Students from British School-Vasant Valley and DPS-Gurgaon organised various competitions.