Tata Hospital to host first-ever sports festival for 250 young cancer survivors

Doctors believe that participating in sports can aid in the physical and emotional recovery of cancer surviving children, promoting overall well-being and resilience. (Express photo)

One of these children is Jayden D’mello, a 15-year-old boy who survived Wilms tumour–-a type of kidney cancer and is now excelling in rifle shooting. He won a gold medal at the CISCE Maharashtra and Goa state championship at the school level in 2022-23. His latest accomplishment is representing CISCE at the School Games Federation of India National event in 2023.

The event has been organised by ImPaCCT Foundation—an inhouse Paediatric Foundation of the hospital along with Duhita Foundation (NGO). They have partnered with seven other hospitals in Mumbai, including Bai Jerbai Wadia Children’s Hospital, Comprehensive Thalassemia Care (CTC) Borivali, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, HN Reliance Hospital, SRCC, and Nair Hospital who would send their cancer surviving children in the fest.

“Just like the Olympics, all the children will be dressed in their respective sports uniform of their hospitals. There will be a torch-lighting opening ceremony. Alongside this, children from the hospital will sing the title song to kick off the sporting extravaganza,” said Shalini Jatia, Officer-in-charge, ImPaCCT Foundation. The children will participate in a variety of games, including athletics, chess, football, carrom, rifle shooting, badminton, swimming, and more.

But aside from long-term cancer survivors, paediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy will also be there. These patients have completed their courses and have been declared fit by the doctors to participate.

Doctors believe that participating in sports can aid in the physical and emotional recovery of cancer surviving children, promoting overall well-being and resilience. “Regular exercise can release hormones called endorphins that give a sense of well-being and happiness. Exercise also helps decrease pain, build a good appetite and help with issues like constipation and improve bone health. Team sports will also give the kids a sense of belonging that will help them boost their self-confidence,” said Dr Chetan Dhamne, Professor Paediatric Oncology of the hospital.

Childhood cancers are highly curable. Eighty percent of treated children go on to live healthy lives. Exercise strengthens mental health and helps prevent obesity post-treatment bed rest.

In 2014, while focusing on recovery and rehabilitation, the foundation was contacted by the World Children’s Winners Games in Moscow, Russia, a global sports competition for children aged seven to 16 who have completed treatment for an oncological disease. Till 2019, 65 cancer survivors from the hospital participated in the annual event. However, it abruptly halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. “So, we wanted to initiate our own annual sports festival for the children. This year, a total of eight hospitals participated. But next year, we aim to make it a national program,” said Shalini.

In a country where approximately 70,000 childhood cancer cases are diagnosed every year and only around 25,000 manage to access hospital care, as per the hospital.

“Over the years we have incorporated informal education, dance, music, art and craft. The child has a very busy schedule in the hospital, and this makes the children look forward to coming to the hospital every day! We are now adding sports to this curriculum!” said Shalini.