The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Song and dance cheer up children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Song and dance cheer up children

Staff Reporter

Christmas carnival organised by Sahaayika at Cancer Institute

IN HOPE LIES HAPPINESS: Cancer Institute Director, V.Shantha, celebrates Christmas with young patients at the Institute, at an event organised by Sahaayika on Thursday. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI: Children in the Cancer Institute enjoyed an evening of song, dance and games at the Christmas carnival organised by Sahaayika.

Their party hats bobbing, the children moved from stall to stall to discover what surprises were in store for them.

Siddharth, a third standard student from Salem, tried dropping coins into a tumbler placed under water. When he succeeded after two attempts, he was given a gift coupon that he could exchange for a sheet of stickers or a couple of pencils.

One of the popular stalls was the balloon and face paint counter. Volunteer Tamara Moss made animal-shaped balloons for the children. The Moss family also conducted a song and dance programme.

Director of the Institute and Ramon Magsaysay award winner, V. Shantha, took time off to share the happiness of the occasion with the children. She distributed cakes to the children.

Girija Sudheendran, one of Sahaayika's founders, said the carnival was organised to create a happy diversion from the children's routine. Many children and their parents were eagerly awaiting for this programme, she said.

Co-founder Neerja Malik said Sahaayika (Ph: 26212126) also offered counselling for families with cancer-affected members.

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