GKNM Hospital organised Marathon in aid of children with heart defects and childhood cancers

Coimbatore: GKNM Hospital & LMW jointly organised “Run for Little Hearts 2023” Marathon in aid of children with heart defects and childhood cancers, today.

This awareness Run was held at Mani's Higher Secondary School, Pappanaickenpalayam to create awareness and bring in hope and happiness amongst children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and Childhood Cancers. The Run aims at providing financial assistance to such children for their medical treatment. The marathon was supported by LMW, Lakshmi Mills, Lakshmi Card Clothing and Lions International.

Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, I.A.S.; GKNM Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr.Ragupathy Veluswamy flaged off the awareness Run along with other dignitaries, by around 5.30 am.

Around 2000+ people were participated in the 1, 3, 5 and 10 KM marathon.

Cancer & CHD recovered Children and Physically Challenged People also participated in this mega marathon.

Following this, a free heart check-up camp for children was held by GKNM hospital. More than a hundred children participated in this camp and benefited.

Incidentally, the month of September is observed as International Childhood Cancer Awareness month every year, and the World Heart Day is a global event that occurs in the month of September. Such awareness programmes are being conducted to support children with CHD and Childhood Cancer, for improving access to treatment and care and in memory of children that have fallen a victim to CHD and Cancer.

An estimated 3 to 5 million children are said to be living with chronic heart rheumatic heart disease, the most serious complication of rheumatic fever, worldwide. Studies show that one in four babies are born with a heart defect. In India, the number of children suffering from CHD has been estimated at over 2,00,000, a year (according to a 2018 study). Of these about one-fifth were found to have serious defect requiring an intervention in the first year of life.