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| Sunday, 29 December 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Dawn of fresh : HOPE
What can you do with 25 cents? Given the pervading force of inflation which has steadily emaciated the value of smaller currency denominations, especially that of coins, 25 cents in today's context means literally zilch. There is nothing you can do with it. You can't give it to a beggar without feeling cheap, you won't get change if there is a balance and you can't even buy a cheap candy. But, like every drop of water going into make a mighty ocean, it can, together with many other 25 cents that would otherwise be discarded as useless, create an impact significant enough to be deemed meaningful and even change the tide of things.... like give a consequential impetus to a worthy cause. In this instance, the worthy cause is the HOPE Cancer Hospital project, undertaken by our valiant cricketers, at the receiving end of some solid thrashing in Australia these days. And the consequential impetus...... The inroads, millions of ignoble 25 cents can make to the enormous cost of the project. "When you're chasing a target of Rs750 million, every cent is precious..." begins the slogan for ANCL's latest altruistic venture, which while underscoring the 'every drop of water' adage, gives a new clout to the humble 25 cents and hope to thousands of cancer patients. Scheduled to kick off on January 1, 2003, the venture, which make the Associated Newspapers Ceylon Ltd. partners of sorts for the HOPE Cancer Hospital Project, will see the Lakehouse Group contributing 25 cents from every publication towards the project, every day for a grand six months, until June 30. Given the fact that the group publishes three popular morning dailies and a large number of weeklies, including the Sunday Observer and 'Silumina', along with a sports magazine every fortnight, the consequential impetus of the once ignoble 25 cents is indeed significant.
And the bestowal will have greater meaning, since it won't be a purely ANCL venture, but a collective effort of the reading public, who will be contributing towards the welfare of cancer patients, every time they buy any of the Lakehouse publications. The 25 cents venture will be matched with a publicity campaign of the HOPE project carried out by the ANCL, further enhancing its association with cancer welfare. And the Hospital, construction of which is scheduled to get underway also in January, will have a ward dedicated to the ANCL once it is functioning A joint effort by the Sri Lankan Cricketers' Association and the Lion's Club of Colombo Somerset District 306B, the HOPE Cancer Hospital, has its origins in a family heart break (the death of Mahela Jayewardene's brother) and the cricketers' desire to give something back to the community. The project, deemed huge by any standards, includes a 750-bed hospital and state of the art facilities that promises to provide quality treatment free of charge to underprivileged cancer patients young and old. To be completed in three phases in land allocated by the government within the Cancer Hospital grounds in Maharagama, it is somewhat similar to the Cancer Hospital set up in Pakistan by Pakistani cricketing legend Imran Khan, who is said to be very supportive of the local project.
Officially launched in March this year, the HOPE project is a government approved charity, and has received wide spread and generous support from around the world, with the entire first phase, the clinical oncology ward which would accommodate 450 beds, being funded by a friend of the team in Dubai. It has also received the support of local children, who recently held 'Colours of Hope' an art exhibition to collect funds for the project. Not to be outdone, Dilmah, the sponsors of the Sri Lanka cricket team have also come forward with a unique fund raiser of their own, where the on-field performance of cricketers will be rewarded with a donation to the project. Accordingly every run is being valued at Rs.10, every wicket at Rs300, every catch and stumping at Rs200, every run out at Rs200 (Rs100 each if it is a combination run out) and a bonus of Rs200 for direct hits. The reward/donation scheme was introduced during the ICC tournament with the sponsors adding an additional '0' that put the value of each run at Rs100 and each wicket at Rs3000. According to latest figures, the team has accumulated Rs246,910 with Muttiah Muralitharan leading the way with Rs33,870, followed by Kumar Sangakkara with Rs30,520 and Sanath Jayasuriya with Rs29,140. Since in launch, the project has also received the support of leading governmental and private sector institutions, which have pledged to contribute over Rs350 million. Sri Lankan Airlines has also offered to raise Rs50 million for the project by selling miniature caps and bats. And on their part, the cricketers, while on the current tour of Australia will participate in a charity cricket match today (December 29), and a fund raising dinner dance later on (all organised by the team) and are planning several more activities that will target the large Sri Lankan community living in Australia. Joining the long list, of donors ANCL's New Year 25 cents venture becomes an intriguing addition to the novel and innovative fundraising schemes. But as a spokesman for the HOPE project points out, raising Rs750 million is not an easy task. Every cent is precious. So if you are interested in joining hands with the Sri Lankan cricket team to make the HOPE project a reality and give some real hope to cancer victims, you can make your contributions to the Hope Cancer Hospital, at your nearest Seylan Bank Branch -A/C No: 040750 or any Bank of Ceylon branch - A/C No: 0681 01 00036029. You can also log on to www.hopelk.org for online contribution or simply buyaa Lake House newspaper. Or you can call 01-672820 for further details. -Hana Make a difference...show your care Little Hemal Ransaka is an ardent cricket enthusiast. But, the days he played cricket seems like a lifetime ago because today he lies helplessly in bed having been diagnosed with cancer. There are many more little Hemal's out there who need our care and assistance. The facilities at the Maharagama Cancer hospital are sadly inadequate and those battling this dreaded disease have little hope of getting the necessary treatment they need...Your assistance could make a world of a difference in making the Hope Cancer Hospital project a reality. |
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