LVPEI organises ‘Whitathon’ to raise awareness on childhood eye cancer

L V Prasad Eye Institute organised the eighth edition of Whitathon in Hyderabad to spread awareness about retinoblastoma in children and raise funds for treatment. Around 2,000 participants joined the marathon event supporting free care and future eye cancer research initiatives.

Hyderabad: LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) on Sunday organised its eighth edition of ‘Whitathon’, to raise awareness about the early detection of Retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in children, and funds for its treatment. The event commemorates the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, observed between May 10 and 16.

The funds raised from the Whitathon run, which featured three running events including Half Marathon (21.2K), 10K and 5K, will be utilised to treat underprivileged children suffering from Retinoblastoma at no cost, and to support future research. This year, around 2,000 enthusiastic participants joined the cause.

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The treatment for retinoblastoma usually involves multiple procedures and surgeries, with close monitoring over several months. From the funds raised through the whitathon, LVPEI has to date offered over 3,000 treatments free of cost.

“If you spot a white pupil reflex in a child’s eye, in a flash photograph, immediately consult an ophthalmologist,” said Dr Swathi Kaliki, Head – Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad

Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad and others were present.