Events

Over the years we have put together & organised several events. The main focus behind these events have always been to raise funds for cancer treatment, awareness & education about cancer & entertainment & relaxation for the patients.

E-Newsletters :

• Children’s camp at Golden Swan Country Club
• Summer Camp for childhood cancer survivors 
• Public Eye Swiss Awards 2007
• Women Achievers' - Fashion Show
• Fun Day
• Children's Day
• Celebrity (VIP) visits to CPAA
• Event Archive

Since 1988 31^st May has been observed annually as the World No Tobacco Day and is the only global event established to call attention to tobacco use on public health and reduce individual tobacco-dependence. 

There is a strong social and cultural influence that entices young people into becoming smokers. Tobacco manufacturers make liberal use of lifestyle advertising, sports sponsorship and popular role models to convey the message that smoking is ‘cool’. In spite of the clear, unambiguous evidence accumulated on the damage that tobacco causes, a large proportion of policy makers are still unconvinced about the need to control tobacco advertising.

The developed countries have been cracking down on tobacco companies and have been passing increasingly strict legislation on what they can do, both by way of product formulation and by way of advertising. Laws are coming into force to block tobacco advertising. In 1997, the European Parliament approved a Directive banning all forms of tobacco publicity, promotion and event sponsorship. The Directive set a timetable for elimination of advertising and sponsorship, with a special provision for international sporting events currently funded by the tobacco industry. These must be phased out by 2006. Sale of cigarettes to those below 18 is already prohibited in most developed countries. As they see their markets in the west shrink, major tobacco companies are now setting their sights on developing countries, where legislation is not as stringent. In general, advertising control is extremely lax. Only a voluntary code to regulate advertising by the tobacco industry has come through so far. Coming into effect from October 1st, 1998, it attempts to ban public personalities from endorsing tobacco products and disallows ads that attribute a better life to the intake of tobacco. The code also seeks to clamp down on surrogate ads, like cricket gear. Unfortunately, the code has proved ineffective, as the organisation that drafted it, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), is a self regulatory body with no powers to enforce the code by punishing offenders.

In spite of protests by health activists, hoardings have become larger and larger, while statutory warnings remain their original size and are painted in the same colour as the background, which make them almost invisible. In the West, tobacco is consumed largely in the form of cigarettes, cigars and pipes. In India, however, there are a number of additional forms in which tobacco is consumed, for example, gutkha, pan masala, masheri, snuff and tobacco toothpaste. Still, some headway is being made. This year, the Kerala High Court banned smoking in all public places in the state and directed the district administration to enforce the order with immediate effect. In a major breakthrough, tobacco ads have been banned in all public places in Delhi. In 1990, the Indian government issued an executive order prohibiting smoking in all health care establishments, government offices, educational institutions, air-conditioned railway cars, chair cars, buses and domestic passenger flights. Indian Airlines has also banned smoking on its international flights to UK, Europe and America. Recently, in some states smoking within 100 metres of educational institutions has been prohibited. However enforcement of these laws leaves much to be desired. There is clearly a need for health information, which can lead to ant-tobacco social norms and attitudes, anti-tobacco policies and non-smoking among a higher proportion of the public. 

CPAA is working towards this end in a number of ways. World No-Tobacco Day is commemorated every year in the form of lectures, camps and rallies all over the country. 

Statistics show that every year 8,00,000 new cancer cases are registered - 3,20,000 of which are suffering from Head and Neck cancers largely attributed to tobacco habits. While, tobacco claims about 4.9 million deaths annually globally, an alarming 1 million of them are from India. Every year on this day we try to create awareness about this emerging epidemic by highlighting the ill-effects of tobacco consumption via hoardings, banners, posters, advertisements and various other programs along-with raising funds for the already affected cancer patients and their families. Year after year the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have supported our programs to fight the battle against tobacco and the emerging epidemic…cancer. In conjunction with the various programs, we also organise free ENT - Cancer screening camp all over the city at various sites for the general public.

From recent reports it is evident that the programmes need to cater to a new group, children and young adults. There is a frightening increase in tobacco consumption trends in this age group and relentless targeting of these youngsters by tobacco companies and advertising agencies has resulted in their being duped into making uninformed choices. Young adults have been reached with the help of the National Social Service (NSS) Programme Officers Training Project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Programmes are held at colleges all over Mumbai. Regular awareness and screening programmes are also being held for street children and children of commercial sex workers. Our Early Detection and Awareness lectures regularly cover the dangers associated with tobacco abuse. We reach out to smokeless tobacco users via the Anti-Gutkha Campaign. In a major initiative, a number of schools are being visited during the current academic year to talk about tobacco abuse in general and gutkha abuse in particular. 

World No Tobacco Day Report
Year : 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Event archive

Would you like to make a contribution towards CPAA’s World No Tobacco Day  activities? 
Organise an Awareness Lecture / Camp  | Donate for World No Tobacco Day

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Inception: Rose Day, CPAA’s call to connect with cancer in a non-medical way was launched on September 22, 1994. A relief moment, CPAA opened cancer to mass compassion and goodwill. Seventeen years running, Rose Day has evolved…touched, moved, inspired Cancer Patients; if just for a while, lifted them out of an abyss to rekindle hope in their lives. It has also raised funds towards CPAA’s long-term goal of ‘Total Management of Cancer’.

The concept of Rose Day came from Joan Shenoy CPAA’s then Director Communications & Chairperson of this project from this conviction, “Every day people do care. They do have heart. Let’s not underestimate the goodness and goodwill of the common man like you & me. At a price that’s affordable across segments, let’s draw people into a conversation about cancer in a non-intimidating way. Gifting a Rose @ Rs.10/- this language of love had the power to make patients smile as well as address bigger issues such as misconceptions about the disease (those were rampant 20 years ago); collectively focus on cancer as a nation and do our little bit to make the difference. Rose Day emerged as that opportunity to channelize compassion into a sustainable campaign against cancer.” Nurtured and grown by CPAA's band of committed volunteers and workers, 22nd September is today observed as National Cancer Rose Day in India.

Why September 22nd ? Because it was on this day that three friends, the founder members of CPAA, Mr. Y. K. Sapru,  Mrs. Siloo Jasdanwalla and Mrs. Rekha Sapru made a tryst 42 long years ago (1969) that they would do whatever was in their grasp to make cancer treatment possible for a cash-strapped patient, little Jaya, believe- it- or- not, happily married and with two kids today. “Jai Ho! That promise grew into a life-changing movement called Cancer Patients Aid Association”, says Mr. Y.K. Sapru, Founder Chairman. “CPAA viewed cancer holistically, long-before ‘holistic’ became a catch-phrase in wellness treatments & philosophies. It has been this holistic approach that has guided CPAA’s work over the years. Our grass-root work with the patients differentiates us. The way our NGO works is balancing the medical, economical, social & emotional challenges of this disease. Rose Day is one expression that ties up all our efforts”, says Mr. Sapru.

“The Rose, quintessential symbol of life & love and all things beautiful became a symbolic reminder…that life also has its thorns. So while a rose can’t cure, it helps you endure”, Joan Shenoy sums up contemplatively.

Rose Day Report
Year: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011
Current year: 2012

Would you like to make a contribution towards CPAA’s Rose Day activities? 
Send your donation (cheque/DD)  |  Donate Online (credit card)

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Year after year Cancer Patients Aid Association along-with the Parents Association Thallasemic Unit Trust(PATUT) spear-headed by noted ghazal singer Mr. Pankaj Udhas has got together the country's finest ghazal singers to present "Ghazal Khazana". Ghazal Khazana is truly a treasure of talent where a wide spectrum of artistes like Nina and Rajinder Mehta, Mitalee and Bhupinder Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Ahmed and Mohammed Hussain, Talat Aziz, Penaz Masani, Anup Jalota etc. perform at this 2-day concert for the cause of cancer patients and thalasemic children. Various donors, well-wishers & our patrons contribute towards the success of this event held at the Oberoi (Hilton) Towers, Mumbai.

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The fight against cancer is arduous, painful and depressing. Time and again our social workers attempt to bring some cheer into patients’ lives by arranging picnics, field trips, Christmas parties, Diwali Melas, New Year parties, concerts....in short a FUN DAY for the patients.

Picnics to Fantasy Land, an entertainment park in Jogeshwari, Mumbai, A concert by actor & singer, Sachin & his troupe, rounded off an action-packed day, a new year party at the office premise are some of the examples of these events. The patients and their family members are picked up at various convenient locations around Mumbai and transported to venue for a day full of fun and games. Donors, patrons & well-wishers always come forward & contribute in every way they can by providing for the transportation, food, entertainment & gifts.

Would you like to contribute to the next Fun Day to be held ? Click here.

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Give a child crayons and paper and they will create a multicolored flower or sunrise or rainbow using every last colour available in the box. But not children with leukemia. Time after time, during the play group CPAA runs for children suffering from cancer, when we put a paint brush in their hands, they choose the browns, the greys and the blacks reflecting the atmosphere, the tension, the pain they and their family go through. Their situation is doubly tragic because they often suffer from conditions which could be treated and cured....if only they received proper treatment. Treatment which unfortunately, is expensive and prolonged.

We have come across many children who fought their disease with courage and cheer and who proved to be an inspiration for us rather than the other way around. They were the premier motivational factor behind the fund raising art exhibition, "Colours of Life". This Annual Art Exhibition was held for the first time in 2005 and we were able to reach out and support the treatment of 194 children suffering from cancer as against the previous average number of 98. In the next year we received the works of over  73 Artists from 5 nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & South Africa) and were able to aid the treatment of  over 200 children. In 2007 we received and over-whelming participation  from over 100 senior Indian artists.

Colours of Life Report
Year : 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012
Next exhibition: 2013