Strokes of hope

The action taken by our cricketers is timely. One in every ten deaths in Sri Lanka is due to cancer. 

All contributions which will be tax free can be deposited at any of the Seylan Bank Branches in the name of the Hope Cancer Hospital.

I watch as star batsman Mahela Jayawardena makes his way around the children's ward of the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama. 

Kneeling beside a little boy, he puts his arms around him and asks, "How are you Hemal?" The gesture is so spontaneous, I find myself unable to speak. Three-year-old Hemal's face breaks out in a big grin.

A hug for Hemal from cricketing hero Mahela

This is a true story, not just a story for the cameras. For whilst dazzling his fans around the cricketing world with his batting artistry, Mahela has been a moving force in this newly launched project. 

Having lost his younger brother Dhisal to a brain tumour six years ago, he has been working hard to make a difference in the lives of other young cancer victims. 

It clearly looked like a dream come true for little Hemal Ransaka who even at this tender age is an ardent cricket enthusiast. According to his mother Ajitha, when Hemal plays with his brothers, he is always the wicketkeeper. But that feels like a life- time ago, as for the past three months, Hemal has been in hospital after being diagnosed with cancer. 

It is to help youngsters like Hemal that the Sri Lankan cricket team is championing a Rs. 750 million project for child cancer victims.


Batting for these youngsters: Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya with little Chamara Dilujaya.
 

Their efforts are aimed at raising funds to build the Hope Cancer Hospital. 

The building which is to come up within the Maharagama Cancer Hospital premises will be for child patients, so that despite the pain and trauma which are part and parcel of cancer, the children will be given a more child-friendly environment to receive curative treatment. 

The 750-bed cancer hospital is to be equipped with the latest facilities and geared to cater to patients from every section of society. A committee consisting of doctors, consultants and ministry officials will monitor the hospital, ensuring that standards are maintained. 

When our national cricketers visited the Cancer Hospital last Wednesday, it was a very poignant moment indeed. And when they extended their hands to the little ones and the gesture was reciprocated it made one feel at least for a moment that humanity had not lost it all. 

Ten-year-old Niluka Madushani had to leave her home in Kurunegala when she was diagnosed as being seriously ill nine weeks ago. But her childhood innocence has not left her. There was an organ nestled in her cot for her entertainment. 

It had been bought for her by the teachers in her school and bright-eyed Niluka seemed to appreciate all the toys and attention that were coming her way. But one couldn't miss the irony that if all had been well, Niluka would probably never have needed an organ all to herself. 

Niluka's mother Rajini stays by her side. Niluka has fever often and had undergone a bone marrow test, she told us.

The drugs prescribed for her child would cost Rs. 50,000 for the three month course. But the money was hard to come by, and therefore a less effective drug had to be settled for, Rajini said. 

The Hope Cancer Hospital project is being sponsored by the Sri Lankan Cricketers Association and the Lions Club of Colombo Sommerset. 

Explaining how this came about, Captain Sanath Jayasuriya said the Association wanted to give back something to the community. Added Mahela, "I came up with the idea, because I know that these children can get cured if we have the proper facilities." 

The Health Ministry provided the land for this project and the cricketers are helping raise funds for the building's construction. The project will then be handed over once again to the Health Ministry. 

Experienced wicketkeeper and a favourite of the cricket-loving public Romesh Kaluwitharana, 'Kalu' to his many fans explained why he was so keen on helping this project. "Adults can somehow bear it at least by communicating their suffering, to others but these innocent children cannot articulate their pain. I myself have a baby of two plus, and I just couldn't bear watching these infants suffer," he said. 

"Since there is a cure and the problem is mainly due to lack of awareness, it is vital that we create awareness about the disease so that steps to cure it can be taken at an initial stage. 

Something which could be dealt with at a very minor stage should not allowed to grow into a monstrous disease," he added. 

In the first phase, the Hope hospital will have a 450 bed general ward along with an iodine ward and space for two radiotherapy machines. 

In the second phase, there will be modern diagnostic facilities, treatment and ancillary facilities. The third phase will include a further 300 beds. 

"We are in this with our hearts," Sanath Jayasuriya said adding, "we want every Sri Lankan to join with the team in this effort."