In a heartfelt celebration of resilience and triumph, survivors of retinoblastoma, their parents, consultants and staff of Sankara Nethralaya gathered at the Shri. V. D. Swami Auditorium, Sankara Nethralaya’s Padma Bhushan Dr. S. S. Badrinath Campus for the “Kanmanigalin Kangal” event. Organized by Dr. Suganeswari Ganesan, Senior Consultant in Vitroretina and Ocular Oncology at Sankara Nethralaya, the day-long event aimed to empower survivors, raise awareness, and provide guidance on managing retinoblastoma.

The event welcomed esteemed guests, including Padma Shri Ramesh Krishnan, renowned Indian tennis coach and player, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, as the distinguished guest of honor. Also in attendance were Mrs. Stella Jacqueline Mathew, Managing Trustee of Golden Butterflies Children Palliative Care Foundation, and Mrs. Aparna Guhan Shyam, Founder & CEO of Tiara Haemophilia and Cancer Foundation, as guests of honor.

The day commenced with cultural activities, setting a joyful tone for the event. Attendees and participants were treated to a celebratory lunch, followed by enlightening speeches by experts in the field. Dr. Suganeswari Ganesan shed light on the “Science Behind Retinoblastoma,” while Dr. Dhaarani Jayaraman, Consultant in Paediatric Hemato Oncology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, offered insightful guidance by speaking on the topic, “Taking Care of a Child With Cancer”.

Dr. K Satish Srinivas, Senior Consultant in Radiation Oncology at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, discussed “Radiation Therapy: Do’s and Don’ts,” while Dr. R Ganesh, Senior Consultant and Head of General Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, addressed “Genetic Diseases in Day to Day Life.” Mrs. Stella Jacqueline Mathew and Mrs. Aparna Guhan Shyam shared their expertise on Palliative Care and Retinoblastoma, respectively.

An open house session provided attendees with the opportunity to seek clarification on any doubts they had. Following a tea break, the main event commenced with an invocation song by Dr. Vinata Muralidharan, Senior Consultant, Sankara Nethralaya, and a welcome address by Dr. Suganeswari. Dr. Girish Shiva Rao, President of Sankara Nethralaya, introduced the Chief Guest, while Dr. T. S. Surendran, Chairman of Sankara Nethralaya, delivered a special address.

Sankara Nethralaya’s Distinguished Senior Consultant Dr. Lingam Gopal provided an introduction to Dr. Preetha Reddy before the felicitation of the chief guests. Cultural events, including “Celebrating Survivorship,” were conducted and anchored by Dr. Mithika Sen. The Chief Guest and Dr. Preetha Reddy addressed the gathering, inspiring hope and resilience among the attendees. Dr. Charanya C, consultant at Sankara Nethralaya, concluded the event with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and supporters.

The “Kanmanigalin Kangal” event celebrated survivorship and served as a platform for education, guidance, and empowerment in the fight against retinoblastoma. It brought together survivors, caregivers, experts, and advocates, creating a community of support and solidarity in the journey towards overcoming this challenging condition.