Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: To observe International Childhood Cancer Day 15 February, the Life Beyond Cancer (LBC) initiative will be organising a special concert at Rabindra Sadan on the same date, 5PM onwards.
The event shall have special performances by some of Kolkata's prominent names. Armaan Rashid Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan's son will open show followed by dance recitals by LBC's cause ambassador, national award-winning actor Rituparna Sengupta along with table maestro Pandit Prodyut Mukherjee, and an exclusive musical performance by national award-winning singer Iman Chakraborty.
The highlight of the event shall be a special dance by cancer survivor children.
About Life Beyond Cancer
Life Beyond Cancer (LBC) is a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to the survival and well-being of paediatric cancer patients with the motto: "No child should die of cancer." LBC is fueled by the tireless efforts of volunteers from diverse backgrounds and professions, and supported actively by the local Rotary Clubs. Till now we have supported 900 needy kids with cancer.
What we do?
Raising Awareness: LBC spreads awareness about pediatric cancer through various means, including blood donation camps, impactful messages from celebrities, and educational initiatives in rural schools.
Financial Support for Treatment: We understand that many underprivileged families hesitate to initiate treatment due to the perceived high cost. To bridge this gap, we provide financial assistance for the initial treatment phase through a crowdfunding corpus fund. This support ensures that no child is denied treatment. We also guide families in accessing government support through initiatives like the Chief Minister's and Prime Minister's funds. Our dedicated team maintains continuous communication with the families to keep them engaged with the treatment process.
Post-Discharge Support: We recognize that a lack of awareness and social stigma often lead to the abandonment of treatment after hospital discharge. This tragic situation results in fatal outcomes, despite the high rate of successful recovery with timely treatment. LBC takes a proactive approach by monitoring and assisting patients post-discharge, aiming to prevent relapse, which can be as high as 38% in our region.
Free Night Stay Support: Since a lot of our beneficiaries come from the interiors of India, we are also providing free night stay for children, along with one care-giver. This service is currently available in Kolkata only.