Eighth Edition of Whitathon Held at Hyderabad

L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)’s annual flagship initiative, Whitathon, kicked off on May 10, at the University of Hyderabad. The event is held every year to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of Retinoblastoma (an eye cancer, mostly seen in children under the age of five) and to raise funds for its treatment. It is held to commemorate World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, observed from May 10 – May 16, this year.

Around 2000 participants ran this year across four categories – 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K (half marathon). The event was graced by:
Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chair- LVPEI
Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director – Apollo Cancer Hospital
Arun Kumar Kalliappan, President – Hyderabad Runners
Dr Swathi Kaliki, Head – Operation, Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer – LVPEI
Sri Venkatesh Reddy, Regional Sales Manager – Alcon Laboratories India Pvt. Ltd
Dr Merle Fernandez, Campus Head – Kallam Anji Reddy (KAR) Campus, Hyderabad
Sri CH Srinivasa Rao, Deputy General Manager (DGM), Corporate Communications – NMDC

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Prashant Garg highlighted the need for awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma and said, “When a child suffers from any illness, it impacts not only their health but also their overall growth and development. The biggest challenge with Retinoblastoma is that many parents fail to recognize the symptoms at an early stage. By the time it becomes visibly noticeable and is diagnosed, it is often too late to save the eye, and in some cases, even saving the child’s life becomes difficult. This is why awareness and early detection are absolutely critical.” He further thanked the participants and volunteers and mentioned how their contribution ensures no child is denied timely treatment and care, due to lack of funds.

Dr Vijay Anand Reddy urged everyone present to spread awareness among their peers, friends, relatives and social circles regarding the symptoms of retinoblastoma and how to detect it through a flash photo.

Dr Swathi Kaliki explained it further saying, “Retinoblastoma primarily affects children below the age of five, and early detection can make a life-changing difference. One important sign parents should watch out for is a white glow/reflection/spot in the center of the eye (instead of the usual red reflex) when you click a photograph using a flash. If you notice any of these, it is crucial to consult an opthalmologist immediately. Early diagnosis can help save vision and also the child’s life.”

Since its inception in 2018, Whitathon has seen an increases in number of participants, thanks to the active involvement of Hyderabad Runners.

We are thankful to the active running community of Hyderabad, the volunteers, and our partners and supporters who helped bring this cause to the larger public.

Diamond sponsors:  
Alcon Laboratories (India) Pvt Ltd

Gold sponsors:  
DSR Prime Spaces  
National Mineral Development Corporation  GTN Engineering India Ltd

Silver sponsors:  
Gebauer Medizintechnik GMBH 
  
Bronze sponsors:  
Cure Foundation  
Roche Products (India) Pvt. Ltd. 
Premier Energies Limited 
Rotary Lake District Moinabad 
  
Supporters:
Biomedix Optotechnik & Devices Pvt. Ltd. 
Aswini Homeo & Ayurvedic Products Pvt. Ltd. 
O P Tibrewala Foundation 
Asian Surgical Company 
KnowTheGlow
  
Partners:
Operation Eyesight Universal (Supporter of LVPEI’s Institute for Eye Cancer)
Hyderabad Runners (Run Partner)
Synchrony, Oracle, Optum, Microsoft (Volunteer Partner)
AIR VIVIDH Bharathi FM (Radio Partner)
EMRI Green Health Services (Medical Partner)
Akshayakalpa (Protein Partner)  
Zumi Milkshake (Beverage Partner) 
Nutri Nest (Wellness Partner)