Manipal, 03 November 2023: Childhood cancers are highly curable, provided they are diagnosed early and treated at the right time. Manipal Marathon 2023 was held on 12th February 2023 with the theme being "Early Detection Save Lives- I Can Survive", with childhood cancers being the focus. The marathon registered more than 11,000 participants from various parts of the world.

Rotary Clubs Manipal town joined hands with the Manipal Marathon organising team and decided to raise funds for poor children with cancer. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) agreed to match this amount and add it to the existing endowment fund. The fund provides an interest component which is utilised towards poor children with cancer taking treatment in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.

The event raised a significant amount of funds and the same was symbolically handed over to Dr Vasudeva Bhat K, Incharge, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal by Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Lt. Gen (Dr) M. D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor and Dr Sharath Kumar Rao, Pro Vice chancellor- Health sciences of MAHE Manipal.

Dr Ballal mentioned in the event that "Children are the future citizens of our country and that great strides have been taken by the university, medical college and the Division to raise awareness and prevent treatment abandonment in children with cancer".

Dr Venkatesh said that "childhood cancers being extremely curable, it is prudent that these children deserve the best possible chance at a cure, and the University will wholeheartedly support all the activities towards this cause in the future as well".

Dr Sharat Rao mentioned that "the Division has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 4 years and is making every effort to provide holistic care towards these children, which is the need of the hour"

The event was also attended by Rotarian Dr Shreedhar and Rotartian Hilda Lewis from Rotary Clubs Manipal Town, who mentioned that "Rotary club has been proactive not only in raising funds for these patients but also providing equipment to the department which has improved care of the children admitted in the division".

Dr Vasudeva Bhat K mentioned that "due to the collective efforts of all the stakeholders, there has been a significant decline in treatment refusal and abandonment rate, and there has been no single child with cancer who has abandoned treatment due to lack of funding for treatment in the past two years".

Dr Vinod Nayak, Secretary of Sports Council of MAHE, added that "the Manipal Marathon 2023 was attended by individuals from all age groups across all campuses of MAHE and worldwide. He thanked all the donors, especially Rotary Clubs Manipal town, towards their contribution to this noble cause".