MANGALURU, DEC 21 : On behalf of Sparsha-Campaign against Cancer, Canara Organization for Development and Peace® Mangaluru and Caritas India in collaboration with ICYM-Diocese of Mangalore, Lions Club, Valencia and Indian Cancer Society, Mangaluru distributed healthy and nutritious food kits to 50 cancer survivors on December 20, 2021 at Mother Theresa Hall – CODP Mangaluru.
The program began by invoking God’s blessing through a prayer song lead by the staff of CODP. Fr. Vincent D’Souza, Director of CODP welcomed the dignitaries and the participants and delivered the key note address.
Addressing the gathering, the chief guest Very Rev. Fr James D’Souza, Vicar Forane of city deanery and Parish Priest of St Joseph the Worker Church, Vamanjoor said, “Health is Wealth – Nothing is more precious than good health. On this joyful occasion of Christmas, it is a noble act and a kind gesture to help those in need, especially those who are suffering from cancer.”
As part of the campaign, hair donation drives were organized by CODP from January 2021 to November 2021 in which 100 volunteers donated their beautiful locks of hair for making hair wigs for cancer survivors. On Christmas celebration a hair wig was donated to a cancer patient Ms Aseena in order to instill courage, hope and positivity.
Rev. Fr Ashwin, Director of ICYM gave a meaningful message on how positivity and self-confidence can help to beat cancer. Ms Saksha Bangera, Dietician, Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute delivered a talk on nutritious food and healthy lifestyle especially by eating sprouts, pulses and eggs, “avoiding regular consumption of junk food, maintaining a healthy diet by regular exercise from a very young age is important to keep ourselves fit and fine,” she said.
Ms Shilpa Dsouza, Coordinator of Sparsha and Ms Lenet Gonsalves, Programme Manager, CODP compered the programmme. Mr Leslie Dsouza, President of Lions Club Valencia proposed the vote of thanks.
