Art for a good cause

Karunashraya, a charitable trust helping patients with advanced cancer for the last fifteen years will host a musical event on Friday, October 7 at 6.30 pm at the Matthan Hotel (opposite Hotel Leela Palace).The event is to celebrate World Hospice Day, and is an occasion to create awareness and raise funds.The evening will feature music performances by renowned singers Shyam of West Wind fame with Dominic of the erstwhile Milestones band who are now performing as Windmill.Bijju and Sinchan, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa finalists will enthrall the audiences with their scintillating Bollywood music.Karunashraya has a 50 bedded inpatient facility on the old airport on Whitefield Road, where patients are taken care of entirely free of cost, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or economic background.In addition to the above they also have a Home Care service where dedicated nurses visit the homes of terminally ill patients and give whatever care is required, both medical and emotional.Kishore Rao, the managing trustee says, “We believe that this is the most crucial stage in a patient’s life, when he or she has suddenly lost the security and comfort of a hospital, since no further treatment is possible.The trauma of losing medical support, added to the fear of death cannot be easily described.The entire burden of care now rests with the families, who are more often than not, ill equipped financially and emotionally to deal with the situation.We have even come across cases where a house has been mortgaged or the family jewels have been pledged to pay for the treatment.” Till date Karunashraya has cared for over 7,500 patients, both as in-patients and at their own homes.More than 80 per cent of the patients are from the weaker economic sections.A l l their services are completely free of charge.The state government has recognised their services and conferred the the Rajyotsava Award for outstanding services in the field of cancer care for the poor.Says Rao, “Our services are free, and the success of this venture depends entirely on the continued generosity of donors at any given point in time.Fundraising is a constant effort - we plan periodic fundraising events to augment our collection efforts.”