Monday, 5 February 2024

Fortis Healthcare and Harley Owners Group join hands for 'Ride for Cancer' to raise awareness about cancer


Gurugram , Haryana, India

  • More than 70 Harley Davidson bikers took part in the bikers rally on the occasion of World Cancer Day on 4th February.

  • Rally starts from Fortis Gurugram, ends in Amritsar via Fortis Mohali and Fortis Ludhiana

With an aim to raise awareness about cancer, Fortis Healthcare flagged off ' Ride for Cancer ' bike rally at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram. The event was led by Mr. Anil Vinayak , Group COO, Fortis Healthcare in the presence of cancer survivors, senior clinicians from Fortis and other senior leadership. More than 70 Harley Davidson riders are taking part in this rally, including some cancer survivors. The rally has been organized to spread awareness among the people about the importance of early diagnosis, treatment options available and the strength required to overcome this disease.

More than 70 Harley Davidson bikers participated in the bikers rally

Departing from Fortis Gurugram, the bikers reached Fortis Mohali where the hospital's senior oncologists, hospital staff and Fortis Management welcomed them and reiterated the hospital's commitment towards cancer care. After Fortis Mohali, this caravan of bikers reached Fortis Ludhiana where they visited the hospital premises and then moved towards the next destination. The rally concluded after reaching Amritsar from here.

Dr Ankur Bahl , Senior Director, Medical Oncology & Hematology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, while lauding the participants said, “It was truly heartening to see the courage and enthusiasm of the bikers who participated in the rally from Gurgaon to Amritsar for this awareness campaign. Was inspiring. “His dedication to this cause once again highlights the importance of early diagnosis, effective treatment and the passion required to fight cancer.”

Anil Vinayak , GCOO, Fortis Healthcare also gave the message of adopting a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on early diagnosis in the fight against cancer. He said, “This bike rally seeks to create awareness among people about the prevalence of cancer in India as well as give a message to people about the importance of early diagnosis and regular screening. This rally was organized with the aim of motivating and supporting cancer survivors and cancer patients. Through this, an attempt has been made to bring out their courage and their determination. Besides, it also gave a message of community participation, it is actually not just an event but the beginning of a campaign to create a cancer aware society. 'Ride for Cancer' showcases hope, strength and collective determination to conquer cancer. Fortis' commitment and the support of the Harley Davidson community sends a powerful message in the fight against cancer. Through this rally, the organizers and participants not only spread awareness but also dreamed of a future where cancer would no longer be a threatening enemy.”

Cancer survivor Siddharth Ghosh , known as Flying Siddharth, who participated in the rally , says – “I have been running my whole life , from the cricket field to the football field at school and I have been running for more than a decade. I have been a marathon runner till now. But then suddenly life threw a challenge at me and made me a kidney cancer patient. My fast-paced life suddenly came to a halt and I started fighting against this disease. However, when I was initially diagnosed with cancer, I was quite shocked. In fact, the day before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had completed a marathon and participated in a corporate cricket match the day before. I had some tests done and I saw blood in the urine. During examination, doctors found that the size of my right kidney was bigger than a golf ball. The growth of cancer had spread so much that it had covered the entire kidney. From here the race of recovery started which took three to four months and then I was finally able to walk properly. About eight months after surgery, I ran a half marathon. And exactly after a year, in January 2015 I participated in the full marathon where I got the biggest prize – I was called Flying Sid, it was on the lines of Milkha Singh's title Flying Sikh and was really quite respectable. In 2019, on completion of 5 years of my cancer journey, I wrote a book – Cancer as I Know It ' which was launched in 13 countries of the world.

Another bike rider Sanjay Dawar is also a cancer survivor and an avid social worker, fitness lover, lawn tennis player. A few years ago, when he was diagnosed with cancer, all these roles came to a halt. Talking about his experiences, Sanjay said, “I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer in 2017. After that chemotherapy, radiation and many other side effects joined my life. But more than the physical problems, there was a mental struggle because I had to stop all my activities. But my courage, mental strength, body and spirit helped me defeat cancer. And in about a year I was free from cancer. Today, I am once again active as a social worker and engaged in working for old age homes, orphanages, girls' education, healers and the welfare of cancer patients and cancer survivors who need medical guidance and emotional support.”

It is noteworthy that all the Fortis hospitals participating in this bike rally are staffed by Fortis Cancer Institutes which have advanced technology for cancer treatment and a dedicated team of senior oncologists who ensure complete care for the patients including From prevention to screening to palliative care and post-treatment support.

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There were 1.01 million new cancer cases and 0.68 million deaths in India in 2012. New cases are projected to increase by more than 70 percent over the next two decades and the disease will become the second leading cause of death worldwide.


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