Foundation commits USD 1 mn in India for community well-being projects.
India & Hong Kong: Hong Kong-based RYTHM Foundation which has been associated with the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) has further decided to strengthen its support to the fight against cancer in India among other worthy causes.
RYTHM Foundation, the corporate social responsibilityarm of direct selling company QNet, and CPAA came together in late 2016 thanks to the awareness created by Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi, who has been a patron of CPAA for over a decade. CPAA is a non profit organisation dedicated to the total management of cancer as a disease for last 48 years.
In September last year, Vivek Oberoi announced a partnership between the CPAA and RYTHM Foundation for the Adopt-a-Patient Scheme to fund the treatment of 20 children with cancer, from low income families. Since the launch of the project, children chosen by the CPAA between the ages of 2 and 16 have been undergoing treatment at leading hospitals in Mumbai.
In May this year, the CPAA announced that 19 of the children were now on the road to recovery and undergoing maintanence therapy. Recently, the CPAA was invited to QNet’s annual global convention in Malaysia to speak about their work and they brought with them three brave young warriors, Divyanshu, Lahu, and Aakanksha, who are now cancer free.
Vivek Oberoi accompanied CPAA and the children and thanked RYTHM Foundation for its support. Vivek Oberoi said “Because of RYTHM Foundation’s support, the CPAA was able to help these children and their families through the toughest period of their lives. And now, they are here in Malaysia, on their very first international trip to thanks to the generosity of RYTHM.”
“Thank you Vivek Bhaiya, RYTHM and CPAA for helping us,” chorused the kids to the thunderous applause of 20,000 people from around the world who had gathered at the 5-day convention.
RYTHM Foundation is currently in discussions with CPAA to fund a project for early detection of cancer, as part of its commitment to support community well being initiatives in India.
“RYTHM stands for Raise Yourself To Help Mankind, which is the underlying principle of the Foundation that believes in helping people become self-empowered, in order to have a positive impact in society. We could not have found a better partner for our first major venture into India than CPAA which has been working passionately and relentlessly towardscancer treatment and awareness, especially for patients and families from the lower economic strata.”Said Richard E Zinkiewicz, Trustee of RYTHM Foundation.
Anita Peter, Executive Director of CPAAsaid, “It gives us immense pleasure to be associated RYTHM Foundation who has not only given a new life and hope to our cancer stricken kids but will also join hands with CPAA to eradicate cancer.”
In the past, the Foundation has partnered with Avalokiteswara Trust to build 15 libraries in rural schools in the remote villages of Ladakh region and has also donated USD 40,000 to the Akshaya Trust in Madurai to build a shelter for the homeless. Earlier in 2008, the foundation donated USD 30,000 towards UNICEF’s water and sanitation programme in the flood affected districts of Bihar. The partnership with CPAAis amongstthe first major long term partnershipsRYTHM Foundation will be entering into in India.
“We are committing to allocate $1 mllion over the next 3-5 years towards community well being projects in India in line with the government’s health initiatives through active participation in the Swastha Bharat Abhiyaanprogram,”Zinkiewicz added.
A series of community well-being initiatives have already been implemented through QNet in Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Telangana.
About RYTHM (Raise Yourself To Help Mankind)Foundation
RYTHM Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the QI Group of Companies, registered in Hong Kong. The Foundation serves as the enabler of the Group’s charitable endeavours and represents QI’s spirit, compassion and dedication in serving the communities in which it operates around the world. The Foundation realises its vision through 3 priority areas: Children with Special Needs, Community Development and Community Wellbeing. A significant number of projects under RYTHM Foundation are driven by the group’s flagship subsidiary QNet.
The Foundation works in alliance with a number of international institutions, foundations and socio-civic groups to accelerate the momentum, scale and sustainability of change. In critical situations, the Foundation acts as a catalyst between generous partners and the underprivileged.
About Cancer Patients Aid Associatin (CPAA)
Established in 1969, CPAA has a tradition of untiring service to needy cancer patients from all over India, and even neighbouring Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan. CPAA is an empathetic, reassuring, non-medical presence that has supported the treatment and overall needs of more than 3,00,000 cancer patients. It believes that every cancer patient has a right to the full range of treatment, and its team of over 75 employees and over 60 associated doctors make sure that they get it.
An extensive network of influential well-wishers supports the organisations endeavours. From a well-meaning group of individuals who had laudable intentions but could only afford the distribution of fruits and newspapers, to a multi-faceted organization helping patients cope with every aspect of cancer, CPAA has grown exponentially in scope, size and influence. It has a presence in Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. Through the medium of its website, it is in touch with readers on five continents and has extended material assistance to patients from Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
For Further Information please contact:
• RYTHM Foundation: Ms. Jayamalar | jayamalar.s@rythmfoundation.org
• CPAA: Ms. Anita Peter | +91 22 24924000 / 24926928 | anita.peter@cancer.org.in
