Manipal, 21^st December, 2021.

A series of chess camps planned to be conducted in and around Manipal and Udupi was inaugurated by Dr HS Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal. The funds raised through the chess camps would be directed towards the treatment and welfare of children suffering with cancer. The initiative to organise these camps has been taken up by Rotary Club of Manipal town in partnership with JCI Manipal Hill City.

The amount raised through this initiative would be added to the Rotary Child Cancer Fund at MAHE and the interest derived out of the corpus will be used to treat child cancer patients admitted to Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.

Speaking about the inauguration of the camps, Dr HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education said“Child Cancer is curable and there is a need for awareness around this issue. I commend the efforts of Rotary Club Manipal Town, JCI Manipal Hill City and Department of Medical Oncology at Kasturba Hospital who have taken up this cause. While more than 95% for child cancer patients are cured in developed countries, the cure rate is much less in countries like India, mainly because of financial hardship. MAHE has always corroborated with charitable clubs to help the needy and supporting these camps is another step in this regard. I wish the organisers all the success and urge the attendees to extend their support for the treatment of deprived children suffering from cancer”

The inauguration was also attended by Dr Sharath Rao, Dean, Kasturba Hospital. Rtn Dr Gurumurthy SC and Dr Sripathi Punchathaya, Professor at Department of Physics, MIT, Manipal will be conducting the chess camps.

Dr Vasudev Bhat K, Head, Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal said “Apart from dealing with this terrible disease, children with cancer face a number of challenges, financial issues being one of the most prominent ones. With the support of MAHE management, NGOs and donors, the Department of the Medical College is going all out to support the underprivileged children with cancer. This initiative will help us give them the much-needed support in their battle with the disease”