Gorakhpur: A cycle rally was organised in the city on Saturday to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to promote awareness about early diagnosis and treatment. The rally was flagged off at 9 am by mayor Manglesh Kumar Srivastava, and BRD Medical College principal, R K Jaiswal, from principal’s office and it proceeded to the district magistrate’s office. Doctors, medical students, health workers and volunteers participated in the event to spread awareness among public.Jaiswal said on the occasion that children from Gorakhpur and adjoining districts, suspected or diagnosed with cancer, can now undergo treatment at BRD Medical College. The initiative aims to ensure families have access to timely diagnosis and treatment closer home.Mayor said such awareness drives encourage parents to recognise early signs of childhood cancer and seek medical attention without delay.Yogita Bhatia from CanKids KidsCan explained that her organisation had been working to improve childhood cancer care by creating statewide referral networks for diagnosis and treatment, training ASHA workers and health professionals for early detection, providing financial and social support to families and supporting the development of pediatric oncology units in medical colleges. TNN
