As seven-year-old Sri Teja sat under the tree, drawing his “ two sisters”, it was hard to imagine that he has already spent a major portion of his life undergoing chemotherapy. For someone who has made the hospital his home in the last few months, the three day art camp — Art for Impact — literally, brought colour to his life.
Hosted by Dr Reddy’s Foundation in association with Gallery Space, the event saw 32 artists take part. And little Teja was joined by a few of his friends, who are currently battling cancer, at the first day of the art camp that started on Friday. And thirty-two artists from around the country sat with the children to help them draw.
Eight-year old Prashanthi has been staying with the organisation, Impact, for the past three months. She suffers from leukaemia and has been undergoing treatment. “Her father is a farmer and her mum a housewife. She is lucky because her uncle is the one who tracks her progress, because her parents can’t keep coming to the city,” says Sunitha Mary, programme co-ordinator at Impact. Meanwhile, Prashanthi is busy clicking photos of all the kids at the event. “This is probably one of the first times that we’re bringing the kids out for an event. Because they run a high risk of catching an infection, they stay indoors,” says Sunitha.
As the artists started interacting with the children, Bengaluru-based artist Subramanian couldn’t hold back his tears. “My daughter was nine years when she passed away. she complained of pain in her left leg, when we took her to the hospital we found out that she suffers from cancer. We lost her to cancer a year after that... and that is why this is emotional for me,” he says.
After this camp, an art exhibition will be held in February 12,13 and 14 and proceeds from the event will go for the treatment of children suffering from cancer.
