The big C-Courage

Although Amy Figueredo feels she should have done it at 17, she is equally thrilled to be walking the ramp at 70! And the enthusiasm is contagious as 14 other women join her for the catwalk.

Cancer survivors will walk down the ramp this Saturday to convey the importance of having a healthy attitude in life

Although Amy Figueredo feels she should have done it at 17, she is equally thrilled to be walking the ramp at 70! And the enthusiasm is contagious as 14 other women join her for the catwalk. There is also another twist. All of these intrepid ladies renaissance women 8212; they are cancer survivors of the Prashanti Cancer Care Mission who have been fighting the illness with fortitude and emerged triumphant too.

Commemorating the Breast Cancer Awareness Month the mission has organised a fashion show and a host of programmes to honour the women and communicate their unusually courageous tales. Speaking on it Rebecca de Souza, clinical psychologist at the centre says, 8220;The activity will not only convey the spirit of these ladies but also motivate other patients and let the community know that cancer is just a comma, and definitely not a full stop. There is life beyond that. These ladies have been defying odds and circumstances extremely valiantly. We give them individual counseling, hold several workshops on all information about the illness, reach out to them through financial, emotional and social support along with reiki, yoga and other exercises pertaining to holistic healing.8221;

Sheela Kurien, a teacher who was diagnosed nine years ago and has been coming to the mission for the last one year, says, 8220;It is an incentive to share the pain and smile. This togetherness gives us a lot of positive energy and through the show we will be encouraging others.8221; Figueredo adds, 8220;If you go in self pity you have lost it. It happened to me in 2004 but I have believed in rising over the pain and embracing life in all its wonder.8221;

The Prashanti Cancer Care Mission through the support group has brought together not only the women but also the caregivers to inculcate awareness, information and motivation. 8220;The show will portray the experiences and the life after cancer of these women. They will also display the designs of Ashely Rebello and Sushila Gugale and share their facts. It is to explain that they are leading a very normal life and that it is not pity but empathy that they need,8221; adds psycho oncologist Khushnud Dhanbhoora.

Sixty-year-old Meher Bharucha has been coming to the centre for several years. 8220;When we put our problems in perspective, we gain strength from each other and an assurance that 8216;I am not the only one8217;. The problems seem easier to handle,8221; adds Bharucha.

And about walking the ramp, the opinion is unanimous-thrill underlines with slight nervousness. 8220;But we are all fulfilling a secret desire. And age does not matter,8221; smiles Kurien.

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The fashion show will be held at Hotel Taj Blue Diamond on October 18