Samhita - Feb. 23 , 3:00 pm, Keefe Tech, 750 Winter St, Framingham, MA

Several talented artists have gathered together to  create  a fabulous classical dance and music showcase to support a great cause.  What brought so many talented artists together to fundraise for the under privileged suffering from Cancer in India? “As a Cancer survivor I know the value of having health insurance and access to great medical care. This has helped mitigate this disease for me. I have been the beneficiary of years of cancer research. My personal journey has shown me the importance of fund raising for this cause,” says Geetha Murali, a leading vocalist and music teacher in the Boston area. She is part of a large team of artists including Aparna Balaji, Durga Krishnan, Ranjani Saigal, Mahalingam Santhanakrishanan, Krishnan Parameswaran and a host of young musicians and dancers who will present a classical dance and music showcase to raise funds for Cancer Institute Foundation (CIF) on Feb. 23 at 3:00 pm at Keefe Tech.  Dr. Manju Sheth and Dr. Vijaya Ramesh will be guests of honor at the event.

The program Samhita is a wonderful amalgam of classical music and dance. Durga Krishnan and her students will be featured in a group Veena presentation followed by a group Vocal recital by Aparna and her students.  Ranjani Saigal’s team will present Shambho Mahadeva, a dance tribute to Lord Nataraja.  The piece includes a unique dance theater piece telling the story of the Mrityunjaya Mantra. Geetha Murali, Mahalingam Santhanakrishnan and Kavita Pazhanisamy will provide live musical accompaniment for the theatrical production. 

Cancer Institute Foundation is a US based organization (volunteer groups) dedicated to raise funds and support the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, India in all aspects of Cancer Treatment. Cancer Institute, Adyar was founded in 1954 by Dr. Muthulaksmi Reddy with Gandhian principles, India’s first woman medical graduate and social re-former. Dr. Reddy, woman of fortitude and a vision founded the autonomous charitable comprehensive cancer center under the auspices of Women’s India Association (WIA). It has grown from a 2-room center to 423 beds of which 297 are free. It has state of the art facilities for diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of cancers as well as rehabilitation. 

-> Provide State of the Art Care for all patients, 66% of whom are treated free 

-> Promote Tobacco Cessation Programs 

-> Screen rural population for early signs of cancer 

Annually, the Institute sees over 110,000 patients. Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan, Ramon Magsaysay Award Recipient Executive Chairman Dr. V. Shanta's untiring leadership and her team over several decades has transformed the Adyar Cancer Institute into a Center of Excellence and compassion for the study and treatment of cancer. Cancer Institute, Adyar also supports Cachar Cancer Hospital, 50-bedded center located in Silchar town, serving the people of Barak river valley and the neighboring states of Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Why did the artists agree to give their time to this cause?

Durga, Mali and Aparna have friends who are Cancer survivors. Aparna unfortunately lost a childhood friend to cancer and that loss touched her deeply.  â€œI want to help as much as I can in whatever way possible to help cure this disease and also aid people for free treatment. I strongly believe that music is the best way to salvation and if through music we can help people for such causes it is a win-win,” says Aparna Balaji. 

“God has given all of us some little talent or whatever that we can use for good causes like this and thus when Sreeranjani called and asked if I would be willing to do a fundraiser I immediately said yes," says Durga Krishnan 

  

“Music is a wonderful way to bring people together for this worthy cause” says Krishnan Parameswaran.

Sreeranjani Rajagopalan founded the Boston chapter of the CIF. “It was back in 2009, my mother got diagnosed with Breast Cancer and it hit our entire family. We took her to the Adyar Cancer Institute. Since then, every time I visited the Cancer Institute, I come out with a heavy feeling to see and talk to a variety of people from kids to adults, many poor patients, the hardships they face in commuting from distant places/states, looking for low cost accommodation/special foods during treatment, family commitments and helpless about what is in store for future. When I came to know about CIF in California, I approached them to see if I can offer them help from Boston. "Mr. Kannan Vairavan, leading the CIF, encouraged me to start the Boston Chapter” says Sreeranjani. She is Associate Director at NTT DATA Inc. responsible for the Oracle ERP delivery and Pre-Sales support in New England region.

Later Guru Krishnamoorthi joined her in this effort. “Ever since I witnessed my mother's pain and suffering with cancer, I was determined to help. My first opportunity was selling coupons worth Rs. 20 for Iravathu varai iruvathu (Rs. 20 till 20 Crore) an innovative fund raising campaign of Cancer Institute, India. My next opportunity initiated with the Boston Chapter - Cancer Institute Foundation in US,” says Guru who works as a software professional with a provider of financial technology services.

The need is great and every penny will make a difference. The group is also looking for volunteers to join them. Please send an email to sreeranjani@cifwia.org or Guru@cifwia.org.