CanSupport organized its 14th Walk for Life -Stride against Cancer on Sunday, 7 February 2021. Since 2008, the Walk is organised to commemorate World Cancer Day and to draw public attention to the rising incidence of cancer, show solidarity with cancer patients, honor those who lost to cancer and raise funds for CanSupport’s much needed free of charge home based Palliative care services.
Unlike the previous years where people got together at Rajpath for the walk, this year due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the walk turned ‘virtual’. In order to connect everyone virtually, Makers Lab, R&D unit from Tech Mahindra joined hands with CanSupport to make an App ‘Walk for Life – 2021’ which had an inbuilt tracker for participants to track their walk/ run or cycling goal, count their steps and calories burnt.
The new format of the Walk enabled many friends of CanSupport to join the walk remotely from different states of India and across the world in solidarity with cancer patients. This resulted in participants and friends joining the walk from countries like the US, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, the UK, and Germany. Many participants from Indian cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Bhatinda, Rohtak, Lucknow and Kochi also participated.
This year the walk witnessed participation from more than 2500 participants from 15 Corporates, 22 schools & Institutions and 28 NGOs and RWA Groups.
To create excitement and build momentum towards the walk, CanSupport held 5 curtain raiser events LIVE on their Facebook page, every Sunday for the month of January. CanSupport invited Onco- Specialists to give an awareness talk on different cancers, concluding the event with a self-care session. We thank our doctors and self-care experts for supporting us in conducting the Curtain raiser events:
Doctors: Dr. Bhawna Sirohi from Apollo Proton Cancer Centre; Dr. Rajinder Kaur Saggu, from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Neerja Bhatla from AIIMS and Dr Shubham Pant from MD Anderson Cancer Centre, US for taking out time from their busy schedule to share insights on prevention of cancer.
Self-care Experts: Zuleikha from the Storydancer Project, US; Nikhel Mahajan from the Nada Yoga Foundation; Himani Sharma from Sutra Studio, and Anchal Bhalla from TasteSutra.
On the day of the Walk, CanSupport organized LIVE programmes on Facebook on four different time slots. The inaugural programme started with a powerful drum performance of Djembe Circle followed by Yoga and Zumba. Dr Bhawna Sirohi from Apollo Proton Cancer Centre gave easy to remember ABCs on cancer prevention and screening. Harmala Gupta, Founder – President of CanSuppot flagged off the Walk with a welcome address.
In her message she said, “This time the walk is going to be different. Though, we can’t meet in person but certainly in spirit we are united wherever we are whether in India or abroad. I welcome all of you. I think if there’s something this year has taught us, it is to be grateful. I hope you will spare a minute for those who are struggling with a difficult diagnosis at a very challenging time and will also do your bit to ensure that services like ours continue to endure so that we can continue to support who need us now more than ever. So I invite you for this walk which I hope you will enjoy and I hope also that you will become a supporter and friend of CanSupport forever.”
The Inaugural Programme concluded with the cancer survivors doing a Lap of Honor.
During the day, on one of the LIVE sessions, a message from Jeannie Mulford, wife of Ex US ambassador to India David Mulford was read out by the emcee, Chandni Arora Singh.
Her message read as follows:
“Ambassador Mulford and I send our warmest greetings to everyone in India who will be walking this year in the virtual CanSupport Walk for Life. Although we cannot be with you in India this year, we will be with you in our hearts. We wish you great success! We will be walking with all cancer survivors and all who are battling cancer. As cancer survivors ourselves this year we walk virtually with you hand in hand. We are so grateful for the incredible work of CanSupport and we look forward to the day soon when we can return to India and all walk together again! With our affection and warmest wishes for success.”
- Ambassador David Mulford and Mrs. Jeannie Mulford
CanSupport showcased pictures and videos of the Walkers participating in the walk from different parts of the world and screened a short film titled A day in the life of CanSupport. CanSupport also hosted a special performance by Zuleika from the Storydancer project and a musical performance by Chaar Yaar – The Faqiri Quartet.
At the closing session, CanSupport felicitated those who had gone an extra mile to contribute towards the success of Walk for Life 2021. The Scroll of Honor for Walk for Life 2021 was presented to:
- Technology Partner: MakersLab | Tech Mahindra
- Largest CSR Partner for FY 2020-21 - Cipla Foundation
- Largest Participating NGO - HelpAge India
We thank our CSR partners and supporters who shared their messages for supporting the walk. Their names are as follows:
- On behalf of Fresenius Kabi, Dr Swarupa Mitra - Radiation Oncologist, RGCI , Rohini
- Dr Loveleen Johri - Founder, SECMEDS- Medical Second Opinion experts
- Monica Dhawan - Country Manager, Communications, Public Relations and CSR, Agilent Technologies
- Dr Prakash Fernandes - Head Palliative Care Partnerships, Cipla Foundation
- Jayati Roy - Direct HR, Braco Electronic Systems Pvt Ltd
The Walk concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Ambika Rajvanshi, CEO CanSupport and an Electro classical performance by Sattyananda featuring Pt Ajay Prasanna on flute and Pt Mukesh Sharma on Sarod.
We congratulate the trophy winners of Walk for Life 2021 in the following categories:
- The Largest Participating Academic Institute – Noida University, College of Nursing
- Largest Participating Corporate Institute - KPMG
- Largest Participating Volunteer group- Rotaract
CanSupport also held a slogan competition which received an overwhelming response. The winners of slogan competition are as follows:
- Kalpana
- Dr Raghav Gupta
- Shekhu
- Aarti from Aseem’s Library
- Yusuf from Aseem's Library
- Marzina from Aseem Library
We would also like to acknowledge all our partner and supporters who helped us in organizing the walk and making it a success.
- Media Partner: Reader’s Digest
- Promotion Partner: Select Citywalk
- Fitness Partner: Fantezy Pvt Limited
- Entertainment Partner: Djembe Circle
- Gift Partner: Sajivaa Tea Gallery
- Knowledge Partner: 1mg
- Nutrition Partner: Fresenius Kabi
- Supporter: SECMED; Garg Medicos; Rk Advertising; Drishti Graphics and Bhutani Super Store
- Walk for Life Ambassador: DPS international, PEFI, Ritika C Pathak and Rotaract
The 15th CanSupport Walk for Life – Stride against Cancer will be held on Sunday, 6 February 2022.