09 September,2017 10:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Sonil Dedhia
Actor collaborates with foundation to build an emergency fund for afflicted children
Emraan Hashmi
I was fortunate that I had the best medical facilities to treat my son, but not everyone has that privilege," says Emraan Hashmi, who knows how despairing the battle against cancer can be, all too well.
His son Ayaan, who was diagnosed with Wilms tumour (a rare cancer that affects kidneys) in early 2014, triumphed in his fight against the deadly disease. Hashmi, since then, has been actively involved in spreading awareness about the Big C. Having penned a book on the subject, the actor has now joined hands with the foundation, 1SmallStep, to build an emergency fund for children suffering from cancer.
His son's journey was an eye-opener for Hashmi - he was shocked on learning the statistics of those succumbing to the disease as they can't afford treatment. "Four out of 10 children from low-income families suffering from cancer leave their treatment midway in our country, due to lack of funds," he rues.
Believing that every child afflicted with the disease "should get complete treatment and live a better life", Hashmi set out to build the emergency fund. The money raised will help children from low-income families to seek treatment at government hospitals. "Our foundation, along with Rotary Club of Mumbai [Queens Necklace], will be looking into the formalities. The emergency fund will help up to 1,000 such children survive cancer. Our aim is to reduce midway abandonment rates, and ensure the child gets complete treatment."
The endeavour has kicked off on an encouraging note - the actor reveals that within three days, the foundation has collected Rs 15 lakh. "It is heartening to see people supporting our cause. Our goal is to collect Rs 1 crore in a month. We are also planning to rope in different celebrities to help us in the fundraising."
