LVPEI will hold Whitathon in Vizag to create awareness on eye cancer among children
LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) will hold a Whitathon here on the beach road on May 15 to create awareness on eye cancer and preventative measures.
T shirt release on Whitathon by LVPEI
T shirt being released on Whitathon by LVPEI
Visakhapatnam LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) will hold a Whitathon here on the beach road on May 15 to create awareness on eye cancer and preventative measures.
The run will be in two categories viz. 3k and 5K. The registrations are open to the public by clicking on this link:https://pages.razorpay.com/pl_JFbGlJovG0QgMs/view.
The Whitathon run is supported by Vizag Runners and Indian Medical Association-Visakhapatnam.
Through the run, LVPEI aims to raise awareness among the public that if they spot a 'white reflex' in a child's eye, which could be a sign of eye cancer that needs immediate medical intervention. Hence, the event is named 'Whitathon'. The funds raised through the run will help the Institute to provide free treatment to children from underprivileged families who have retinoblastoma.
The T shirt brought out for the programme was unveiled by Dronacharya awardee and chief coach of Youth Indian Women Boxing Team and Senior Women National Team Inukurthi Venkateswara Rao and Dhyan Chand
awardee and two-time World Championship Silver Medallist Usha Nagisetty at a function here on Thursday evening.
Whitathon is an annual cause-related event focusing on raising awareness and funds for early diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma-a life and vision-threatening eye cancer in children. It is for the first time that LVPEI is organizing a whitathon in Visakhapatnam. One of the most common symptoms of retinoblastoma is white reflex (white glow) in a child's eye.
Dr Priyanka Walvekar, Ocular Oncologist, GMR Varalakshmi Campus, Visakhapatnam, LVPEI said "we extend our sincere thanks to Inukurthi Venkateswara Rao and Usha Nagisetty for being the guest of honour for the whitathon T-shirt unveiling. We are sure with their support we will be able to make this event a great success and together ensure that no child dies of eye cancer because of lack of awareness and treatment."
Dr. Walvekar said it is time to make detailed eye check-ups a part of mandatory paediatric examinations. Parents and physicians should be educated about symptoms that could otherwise be easily dismissed as an infection. There is a need for increased awareness about this life-threatening disease among parents and the community at large.
