“My dear friend, life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about dancing in the rain. Likewise, you bounce back with that energy to fight for anything come what may.” This was one of the 100 letters written by students of Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore, Chennai, to cancer patients who are getting treated at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC).
On receiving the letter from one of the students, 55-year-old Mr. S. Nambiar’s eyes welled up with tears of joy. He said, “This is a very kind gesture and it brought back many old memories.”
In this modern age, written communication is mostly done either through emails, WhatsApp messages or other social media interactions, but there’s always a special joy in receiving a letter from near and dear ones and more so, from a stranger. To evoke the feeling of happiness in receiving a letter and to build a strong bond of friendship, APCC in collaboration with Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore, has launched a unique initiative called ‘The Warriors’ Smile’ wherein students write encouraging and affectionate letters to patients undergoing cancer treatment. The activity will be organised every month in line with Apollo Cancer Centres’ initiative of ‘Tender Loving Care’.
It is aimed at adding compassion and positivity into the lives of cancer warriors so that they can stay strong in their journey to win over cancer.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director – Operations, Group Oncology & International, Apollo Cancer Centres, said, “Apollo has always been synonymous with the best-in-class treatment and defined the level of excellence in every initiative. From creating awareness among the masses about cancer, bringing cancer conversations to the forefront, and prioritizing patients at every step of the treatment, Apollo has created a world of its own built on the foundation of Tender Loving Care. I take pride in this initiative and the positive impact it is destined to create on patients today and tomorrow.”
On the occasion, Mr Harish Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said, “This unique initiative ‘The Warriors’ Smile’, aligned with our mission of providing our patients with the best possible care, is bound to have a profound impact on their motivation and strength. It is splendid how some gentle words and caring actions can create ripples of soothing the worst of pains in the hardest times. I would also like to thank Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore, for associating with us for this encouraging step towards promoting happiness and liveliness.”
With a motto of promoting a light and happy environment for the cancer warriors, this initiative stands true to the cause of keeping the patients calm and persuade them to go strong on their journey of healing.
