Sunrisers – Juvenile Cancer Patients’ Cricket Match

Hyderabad, May 13, 2014: A scintillating two over ‘Sunrisers – Juvenile Cancer Patients’ Cricket Match’

Between joint teams comprising of juvenile Cancer patients and Sunrisers team members was played at Apollo Cancer Hospital, Jubilee Hills, today. Cricketing stars from the Sunrisers team Dale Steyn, David Warner, Darren Sammy, Shikar Dhawan, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma joined Cancer combating Superstar kidsin a keenly played nail biting duel hosted by Apollo Cancer Hospital and CURE Foundation. The cricketers later interacted with the kids and gave away prizes to the winners.

This morale boosting match for the children fighting the match of their life against cancer, was of two overs for each side. The teams were a mix of 3 players each from the cancer patients and Sunrisers Team.The overawed children playing amidst the reputed international stars exhibited their competitive spirit and thoroughly enjoyed ever moment of the match. The cricketers too were bowled over by the grit and determination these kids showed.The never say die attitude of these kids taught us a lesson or two, they are our true idols and we need to emulate the strength of their solid character in an adverse phase of their lives. Their fortitude will ensure that these kids will hit the cancer for a six, says Dale Steyn.

Playing with these cricketers, whom we idolize watching on the small screen, was really heartwarming and morale boosting for me and the bunch of friends suffering with cancer like me, they gave us the much needed stimulant to bravely combat cancer and win over it, says

Speaking on the occasion Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital said, the dreadful Cancer doesn’t even spare Children. In India, around 45,000 new cases of Childhood Cancers are diagnosed every year. Childhood cancers constitute 4.5% of all Cancers in India (70 per 10 lakh population). Dr. Reddy added that Children cope with Cancer treatment better than adults and recover much faster than adults. Most Cancers in Childhood are curable, in fact 80% of all childhood Cancers are curable and in contrast only 65% of adult cancers are curable, he pointed out.

Dr.M. Vinitha Reddy, MBBS; MD; in Radiotherapy, briefed the gathering about the Symptoms of Childhood Cancers and when to approach the doctors. He said 80% of cancers in children can be treated.