Braving summer heat, four youngsters stood by the busy NTR Marg road, holding placards and appealing to people to donate money for treatment of their friend suffering from blood cancer.
Vijaya Sahara Shalini, a second year degree student of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Educational Institutions in Baghlingampally, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a type of cancer, in March. Her treatment, which is estimated to cost around ₹11 lakh as of now, began in the second week of April at a cancer specialty hospital in Jubilee Hills. In three days, her friends have collected around ₹15,000.
The temperature in Hyderabad on Tuesday touched 42 degrees C, but that was no deterrent for the four boys, who had just completed the semester’s final year exam at 12 p.m. “Shalini is my junior. After getting to know about her condition through an online post on Sunday, I picked up a cardboard and chart paper and wrote a message urging people to donate money for her treatment. I collected around ₹3,000. Penny by penny, we are trying to do our bit,” said K. Ravi Kumar, a final year degree student of the college.
He was joined by three batchmates — P. Shivaji, U. Nikhil Kumar and U. Anil. They split into two groups and stood on two sides of the road near Lumbini Park.
Urging people to help, Shivaji said donations can be made through Milaap.org website where one has to look for a post titled ‘Support Shalini Fight Blood Cancer’.
The youngsters said around ₹2 lakh was gathered through the online portal. Nikhil and Anil said after doing their part, they will prepare for another slated for Saturday.
₹5.50 lakh more needed
Shalini’s parents Rathna, a homemaker, and James, who has a private job, are from a middle class family. The couple’s family members said that the parents have already spent ₹5.50 lakh on her treatment, for which they had to take loan of ₹2 lakh.
“If bone marrow transplantation has to be done, we would need around ₹ 25 lakh. But it is not confirmed yet. She will undergo a second round of chemotherapy. Currently, another ₹5.5 lakh is needed for her treatment and her parents are struggling to arrange money. Shalini is young. If anyone helps her, they will be giving a new lease of life to her,” said her aunt, who did not wish to be named.
KTR responds
Responding to a tweet from Janardhan Rudravena, a student of Shalini’s college, in which he requested TRS working president KT Rama Rao’s help for Shalini's treatment, the political leader asked for details to be sent to his office. “Sure, pls send details to @KTRoffice (sic),” he wrote.