Hyderabad, April 16, 2019: To raise awareness on early detection of eye cancer (Retinoblastoma) in children, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) is organizing the second edition of ‘WHITATHON’ Run on May 19 to commemorate the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week that will be observed from May 13-19, 2019. VVS Laxman, Tom Moody, Yusuf Pathan and Siddharth Kaul from SunRisers Hyderabad, the Indian Premier League (IPL) team, unveiled the Whitathon T-shirt today, while the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Sri Anjani Kumar unveiled the Whitathon medal.
Last year, LVPEI treated 1147 cases of retinoblastoma free of cost, thanks to the funds raised through their first edition of Whitathon. This year over 5000 participants are expected. “Let no child die of eye cancer because of lack of awareness and treatment,” said VVS Laxman – the official brand ambassador of Whitathon 2019.
The Run will be flagged off from People's Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad, Telangana at 6 AM. The funds raised from the Whitathon Run will be utilized for treating poor children suffering from Retinoblastoma free of cost, and to provide resources for future research to explore new treatment options for this alarming disease.
Details on the Run categories and registration fee:
3K Fun Run – Rs 500
5K (Timed Run) – Rs 750
10K (Timed Run) – Rs 900
To register log on to: https://www.ifinish.in/event_details/Whitathon_2019
Retinoblastoma is one of the rarer cancers prevalent today and most commonly (90%) affects children below 3 years of age. Over the past decade, LVPEI has treated more than 2000 patients with retinoblastoma eye cancer. Over 60 to 65% of these patients cannot afford the expense of the treatment, and LVPEI subsidizes it at no cost to the poor patient’s family. LVPEI treats 150 to 200 new cases every year, of which 40% are in late stages and 10% are in very late stages.
“It is time to make detailed eye check-up a part of mandatory paediatric examinations. When the disease is detected early, it is curable,” said Dr Swathi Kaliki, Ocular Oncologist and Head - Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer at L V Prasad Eye Institute.
About L V Prasad Eye Institute
The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) was established in 1987 at Hyderabad as a not-for-profit, non-government, public-spirited, comprehensive eye care institution. LVPEI is governed by two trusts: the Hyderabad Eye Institute and the Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation. The Institute is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness and a Global Resource Centre for VISION 2020: The Right to Sight initiative. LVPEI has ten active arms to its areas of operations: Clinical Services, Education, Research, Vision Rehabilitation, Rural and Community Eye Health, Eye Banking, Advocacy and Policy Planning, Capacity Building, Innovation and Product Development.
The LVPEI pyramidal model of eye care delivery currently includes a Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, 3 tertiary centres in Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, 19 secondary and 180 primary care vision centres that cover the remotest rural areas in the four states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. For further information, visit the Institute’s website, www.lvpei.org
For further information, please contact:
Dr Sreedevi Yadavalli
Head - Communications & Corporate Relations, L V Prasad Eye Institute
Tel: +91 040 23547254, +91 040 30612444; Mobile: +91 9849171895
Email: ysreedevi@lvpei.org
Website: http://www.lvpei.org