CPAA: Project Highways, Quit Smoking Campaign, Anti Tobacco & Quit Smoking Campaign

CPAA: Quit Smoking Campaign & Anti Tobacco Campaign in India

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Projects >> Project Highways - A Breast Cancer Awareness Drive by Survivors ...the story so far.

In November 2005, Dr. Ritu Biyani Joseph, celebrated five years of being a Cancer Survivor then. Her 14 year old daughter Tista Joseph had been with her throughout and is her strongest support. The mother daughter duo decided to take it forward in the form of a nationwide drive. During the course of finalizations, 30 year old Vandana Natu, a writer and a filmmaker from Mumbai joined them to be a part of the hands on gang.

Thus began the journey with a germ of a thought and a vision - Project Highways. Here is a brief account of the expedition so far... for detailed story click here>>

The highway squad

On the driver’s seat - Dr. (Mrs.) Ritu Biyani Joseph is spear heading this solo drive across India The ‘highway squad’ with the concept of linking adventure sport with an awareness campaign. This 47 yrs old a dental surgeon, is an adventurer by heart, who loves challenges and never misses an opportunity to cheer other cancer patients. Has scaled mountains, Para-trooped and sky-dived and is an avid Photographer. In the past 3 years she has driven a total of 30,000 kms cross country in India & Bhutan. She is a cancer survivor herself and has completed 5 years of survival after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer in September. 2000.

Ms. Tista Joseph, 14 yrs old. Amateur photographer and Videographer / Navigator and adapted to travel in all remote areas like Leh / Laddakh / Kutch / Bhutan etc. Has keen interest in environment and wildlife & a great asset in conducting these camps. She has seen her mother through the illness and bonds well with families of suffering patients. Has decided to spend her entire summer vacation with the mission.

Ms. Vandana Natu, 30 yrs old. Professionally a writer and a filmmaker from Mumbai. Currently working on her book. She was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer in March 2005 and has completed treatment in Oct. 2005. Eight months out of treatment, wanted to reach out and connect to as many people as possible.

The fourth member Ms. Ishani Roy from Mumbai, joined them for a period of 20 days at Arunachal Pradesh.

Through this adventure drive Ritu wanted to motivate cancer patients and survivors to drive on the HIGHWAYS of life exploring their inner strengths and spirits. They wanted to instill hope in all to celebrate health and life specially those who are touched by this illness.

FLAG OFF

This mission was to conduct Awareness Camps on Breast, Oral and Cervical Cancers. Personal interaction and dispelling myths was focal to the project along with teaching self examination and information/material dissemination regarding the disease to the far flung areas. This six month project will culminate in the 3^rd Asia Pacific ‘Reach to Recovery’ International Breast Cancer support Conference on 6th Nov 2006 at the Hilton Towers, Mumbai.

With support from Women’s Cancer Initiative – Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai as sponsors and Cancer Patients Aid Association Mumbai as a support body the message gained momentum. Organisations like Ford Motors, Autocar & Hindustan Petroleum pitched in to do what they are best at – provide wheels (a Ford Endeavour Everest) and fuel the mission.

On April 1, 2006 the trio got flagged off from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai amidst lot of cheering and support from the main catalyst Dr. Rajan Badwe (Surgical Oncologist TMH), Dr. Dinshaw (Director TMH), Devika Bhojwani (VP- Womens Cancer Initiative, Tata Memorial Hospital), Shubha Maudgal (Executive Director Special Projects - Cancer Patients Aid Association), Sunil & Manna Shetty and loads of friends and family.

The Journey so far...[as on - 27/06/06]

Departure - Pune - 04/04/06
Distance covered so far - 13,800kms
Heights covered - 15500 & 18,000+ ft above sea level
Routes - Total appx. 30,000kms
Schedule A. [Duration - 3 months] : Pune (West Coast) - Sikkim (North East)
Schedule B [Duration - 2 months] : Remaining India (North - Leh - Laddakh - Jammu & Kashmir - Himachal Pradesh - Uttaranchal - Uttar Pradesh - Punjab - Haryana - Rajasthan - Gujrat). Organised Camps/ad hoc interactions - (done till now)

No. of camps - 67 appx.
Attendance -over 13,000 people
Highest Altitude camp - 12700 ft at ITBP post Sungatser, Arunachal Pradesh
International Borders - China at Bumla, Arunachal Pradesh
                               - Tamu Mayanmar crossed at Moreh, Manipur
                               - Bangladesh at Dawki Meghalaya
                               - Tibet plateu in North Sikkim,
                               - Nepal

Route covered:

MAHARASHTRA 4th - 6th April 2006 Ahmednagar Akola Karanja Ghadge Nagpur	Camp at Karanja Ghadge - Maharashtra
MADHYA PRADESH 6th - 9th April 2006	Khatiya, Mocha - Kanha National Park
CHATTISGARH 9th - 10th April 2006	Raipur
WEST BENGAL 13th - 17th April 2006 Shilpi Artisans dist. Bankura Bholpur Siliguri Sukhna	Bankura Shilpi Kendra - West Bengal
ASSAM 18th - 22nd April 2006	Kareng Bali Ghat, Hathikhuli Tea estate, No. 2 Bohikua dist. Golaghat, Jorhat (2 ad hoc.)
ARUNACHAL PRADESH 22nd - 24th April 2006 31 camps Namsai (2) Mahadevpur Lathao Chongkham Wakro Loyliang Tezu Quibang Kibithu Kahao Walong Hawai Hayuliang Roing Pasighat Rayang Sille Along Mechuka Segong Itanagar (2) Sungatser Tenga Tipi + 5 ad hoc	Quibang - Arunachal Pradesh The team (Dr. Ritu, Vandana, Tista & Ishani) with vehicle on Brahmaputra river
MEGHALAYA 25th - 31st April 2006	Shillong
NAGALAND 1st - 6th June 2006 3 camps - Rangapahar (near Dimapur), Tsosinyu, Kohima	Tsosinyu - Nagaland camp
MANIPUR 6th - 15th June 2006	10 camps - Maram, Jwalamukhi, Imphal, Leimakhong, Moreh, Moirang, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Motbung, CMC Imphal
SIKKIM 15th June 2006 onwards Gangtok Lachen Chungthang	Gurudongmar lake, North Sikkim
Schedule B - Route to be charted out after completion of Schedule A - Route to be charted out.

Dr. Ritu Biyani Joseph

The North Eastern leg of the All India expedition finally came to an end in Siliguri on 25/06/06. The team took a much needed break on 26th June 2006 to catch up with their documentation. Tista who missed out on 3 weeks of school by giving that time (apart from whole of her summer vacation) to the mission flew back to Pune to resume school.

On 29th June 2006 Ritu once again steerd her SUV (Ford Endeavour) on the Highways of East Coast and West Coast via Murshidabad.