Chennai: Not many people will receive a call from a former president of the country. But patients and staff at the Paterson Cancer Centre were on cloud nine when they received a call from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who spoke to them, congratulating the team and blessing the patients. The call came on the occasion of Rose Day, celebrated at the Centre here on Saturday, organised by the Cancer Alleviation Foundation (CALF), a charitable trust working with the aim of creating a cancer-free society in future. Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), a non-governmental organization, which has been helping cancer patients worldwide, also participated in the event.
“Rose Day is a day conceived and marked to bring cheer, happiness and smiles to cancer patients all over the country in major cancer treatment centres. It is a very special day when we meet patients to give them gifts, toys and roses with personalized messages, showing them that we care,” said one of the organisers. Cancer Ambassadors who had survived the disease shared their stories and encouraged the patients and their families. This included actor “Crazy” Madhu Balaji, who shared his personal experience and said that cancer is curable. Gifts were also distributed to the patients.
The chief guest for the programme was Radha Krishna Prasad, General Manager of Indian Overseas Bank. Others including actor S Ve Shekhar, Chief Administrative Officer, Vijaya Health Centre B Viswanatha Reddi, advocate Sathya Rao, General Manager of Vijaya Medical and Educational Trust D Ram Babu, JV Ramani, CALF, Sarala Panchapakesan, Managing Trustee, CALF and Dr S Vijayaraghavan, Managing Director, Paterson Cancer Centre also participated.
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