Mangaluru: Cancerthon 2017, a month-long cancer awareness programme for the benefit of public in Mangalore city organised as a part of silver jubilee celebration of Yenepoya Dental College in association with Yen–Onco Centre and Yenepoya University concluded with a half marathon here on February 12.

In order to emulate the people fighting cancer in various forms, Yenepoya University subsidiaries conducted the half marathon which was Mangaluru’s largest competitive fitness event including a half marathon, 10 Km run and 5 Km run/walk. The objective behind conducting this marathon was to create awareness among people about cancer, raise funds and support cancer research and treatment.

In the marathon a record number of more than 7000 registrations were done who took part enthusiastically. The route taken for the 21 kilometer half marathon startted from Forum mall and ended at the same venue. The participants took the Forum Mall – Statebank – City Center Mall – PVS Junction – Ladyhill – Infosys – Kadri – Bendoorwell route and concluded at Forum Mall. There were three different categories under Cancerthon, a half marathon of 21 kilometers, a smaller half marathon of 10 kilometers and a participatory marathon of 5 kilometers.

After a series of awareness programmes conducted by Yenepoya Group in raising funds for cancer treatment and research through a marathon run, ‘Cancerthon 2017’ was officially launched at Forum Fiza Mall on 16 January. A month long cancer screening camps were conducted around the city for fisher folk, police officials, bus drivers/conductors and Mangaluru City Corporation officials among others. The screening camps began on 8 January and three such camps were conducted every week at various places in Mangaluru.

Alvas Institutions director Dr M Mohan Alva, Yenepoya director Abdulla Kunhi, Olympian Sahana Kumari, Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya University, Dr. Vijay Kumar Akhtar Hussain, B M Farooq, registrar of Yenepoya, Principal of Yenepoya Dental College, Dr. Sripathi Bhat, President of the event, Dr. Hasan Sarfaraz, Sandeep Shetty, Iftikar Ali and many other dignitaories were present at the final day of Cancerathon 2017.

The winners were given prizes. In the 21K category of women, Jyothi from Alvas college won the first prize, followed by Supriya from Mumbai with second prize, Soumya from Alvas third prize and Archana from Alvas won the fourth place. In 21K men’s category, Charles from Kenya won the first prize, Philip from Kenya won the second prize, Edwin from Kenya won the third prize and Kantilal from Alvas won the fourth place. In the 10K women category, Rishu Singh from Alvas won the first prize, Suprita from Alvas won second prize, Pavithra from Alvas won the third prize and Tejaswini from SDM college won the fourth place. In the men’s category, Ananth from Alvas won the first prize, Robin from Alvas won the second prize, Tirupati Rao won the third prize and Abhishek from SDM Ujire won the fourth prize. In the 10K (29-45age) women’s category Jyothi Harish Rao won the first prize and Rajashree Nayar won the second prize. In the men’s category, Saji Raju won the first prize and Nikhi Rane won the second prize. Pranav Rao, one of the youngest participant won first prize in 5K open category.

Purpose of Cancerthon:

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.2 million deaths in 2012 alone. Around 9.5 lakh people are suffering from various forms of cancer in India out of which around 2.3 lakh males are diagnosed with lung, oral, esophageal or stomach cancer and 5.2 lakh females are diagnosed with breast, cervical, oral or esophageal cancer. In Karnataka alone there are 45,000 recorded cancer patients.

According to the prediction of GLOBOCON, an international agency for research on cancer, India’s cancer patients will double in the next twenty years. The projections indicate that the absolute number of cancer deaths will also rise. It is also learnt by the agency that tobacco in both smoking and chewing forms contribute to 22 percent of global cancer deaths and 71 percent of global lung cancer deaths.

It is also known that 30 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding risk factors. Some of these cancers are most often preventable if detected at an early stage. So, in order to get an early insight into probable cancer, Yenepoya authorities are taking up this cause to help identify and treat Mangaloreans of various walks of life.