SHILLONG: A ‘Run and Ride Against Cancer’ is being organised by the Tata Trusts and Cachar Cancer Hospital, which involves a group of bike riders, mainly doctors and others, going to several cities of the North East region to make people aware of the disease and its rapid growth in the region. Cancer awareness events and a Run have been planned in each of the 10 cities along the 2100km journey where the bikers halt.
In Shillong, the Shillong Commerce College, along with Manbha Foundation will organise an awareness run, which will end with a Cancer awareness event at the College on Tuesday. This initiative is supported by the Department of Surgical Oncology, NEIGRIHMS.
Northeast India is considered the ‘cancer capital’ of India, as it reports 3.1% of the total cancer cases in the country, despite accounting for only 1.4% of the population.The 5 km run will begin at 6.30 am from the College, following which a meeting will be held on the college premises at 8.30 am, wherein the Health Minister AL Hek and other officials are to participate. While a lot of youngsters have expressed interest in this event, everyone is invited.
The aim is to communicate messages related to cancer and by doing so change the perceptions and behaviours related to the disease and positively alter the extent of health seeking behaviour.
