Draw for Hope a quest to gift paintings to the paediatric unit of the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama was conducted at the Vihara Maha Devi Park’s open area last weekend. Professionals as well as amateurs enthusiastically volunteering, gifting their time and talent to bring hope to children.
The mid day heat seemed to have no effect. In the shade of many a tree at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, another world was unravelling. There were no barriers. There were the young as well as the old. Men, women, children; sometimes in groups, in twos and threes and occasionally alone stood there with palettes and brushes in hand, revealing beauty on to the canvasses mounted on easels before them. It was a world of wonder, where art from the bottom of their hearts created hope.
It had been going on for two full days, during the last weekend (February 8 and 9).
Draw for Hope it was named. It is a project of the Leo Club of Mahanama College, Colombo. The members had carried out many a project, said Kalpa Sulakshana, the President. “We engage in a lot of social service projects. Paediatric cancer is one of our annual themes.” The background for the project was created by the immediate past president of the club, said Kalpa. Being the current president, he along with two other supportive former club presidents, had thought of the idea of hanging a painting over each bed in the paediatric ward of the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. “All what they see in the wards are the medicine cabinets, saline units and the like. They don’t get a chance to see beauty and enjoy it. So, we thought of making a difference in their lives, to make them happy.”
The Leo Club invited participants through social media, promoting the event through the accounts of club members. They also provided the canvasses, easels, palettes and paint and asked the artists to bring only their own brushes.
However, for those who needed, the brushes were provided as well. The target was to create as many paintings as possible.
The event was opened with a simple ceremony on Saturday, at 8.30 in the morning. A former President of the Lions Clubs International Mahendra Amarasuriya, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidullah, Governor Lions District 306C2 Binara Jayawardena and Chairman, National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa were the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
The response was “great”, said the team in charge of the event - Kalpa, Oshini, Ruvindu and Yohan. So much so, they ran out of canvasses Sunday morning!
“We have been supported by professional artists as well as amateurs. Professionals such as Raja Segar advised us and have agreed to donate their paintings for auctioning. Sudath Abeysekara, Shantha Kulathunga and Nisansala Rajapaksa also supported us.” They clarified how, with the support and ideas of professionals the project has grown even further.
Exhibition
Mahanama Leos, in collaboration with the Cancer Care Association (CCA) and the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), would hold an exhibition of paintings completed during Draw for Hope, in March. “The exhibition and auction is tentatively scheduled to be held at the open air theatre at the Vihara Maha Devi, with an acoustic music festival. We will auction a few paintings, by professional artists to raise more funds.We plan to purchase items that the wards need on a regular basis, from whatever the amount of money we raise in consultation with the management of the Apeksha Hospital,” they said with enthusiasm.
The rest, drawn by citizens from all walks of life with love from the bottom of their hearts will hang in the paediatric wards, bringing happiness to children.
Imasha Vimaji, Shenali Wijesiri and Triyana Perera were friends from the Open University, completing three drawings. “The moment we saw the post, we wanted to be here to contribute,” said Imasha. What made them do so? “Even if it is one child whose life we could make a little better, we would do that. Being sick is not easy for a child,” with the passion of compassion lighting up their faces the young women said.
For Shenali Wijesiri, it was also a milestone in her life. Though gifted with artistic skills, she had never tried her hand on a canvas before, she commented. “This is the first time I’m drawing on a canvas. So, I’m excited about it.” With a shy smile she wondered if the children would like her painting, as a guardian angel knelt down to look into the eyes of a little child, through her canvass.
Mayomi Herath, a student at Law College and Gayathri Wijesinghe a lawyer, both from Kandy were together painting a picture of two friends enthusiastically. They had chosen the theme of friendship because the painting is for children, Mayomi explained. “We set our hearts on this event because it was for children. When they see this (painting) they have to have a happy feeling. We just wanted to embrace and illustrate the theme of friendship,” said Mayomi. Gayathri agreed. “We wanted to be here mostly because we like drawing. So far, it has been an exciting experience and we are enthused knowing that we are drawing for a cause.”
Chamanka Pahasara was from the Open University, Nawala as well. He not only volunteered his time, but had been a catalyst in encouraging others to do so, inviting and coming along with a group of friends from the university. “I didn’t have any big ideas about what to draw today. I only knew that I could do something to make their lives better,” he explained. Eye soothing greenery sprang from his brush. He praised the organisers of the event for their thoughtfulness in supplying everything for the artists. Usually, when such events are held it is limited to a small crowd as all cannot afford art supplies such as paint and canvas. By supplying the basics, the event had drawn flair from all walks of life, even the talented passersby. “This is a good cause. I will give my full support,” said Chamanka, showing his willingness to contribute to the cause in the future.
Right to life
“Cancer is not something we get willingly. Perhaps it is the destiny or fate for some people. But, just because of that, we shouldn’t keep them away saying that he or she has cancer, so that person can’t do anything,” commented Chamanka, critical of the societal view of individuals suffering from non-communicable chronic or terminal diseases. Cancer patients have their right to life, to live it fully just as those without illness do. However, Sri Lankan society rather than supporting them to lead a normal independent life make them feel invalid in more than the physical sense. “It is better to support them and give them a place in society. Give due recognition for their talent and skills. There are many talented people including children among the patients at Apeksha Hospital. I’m sure even at this moment we could find some.”
According to Chamanka, as artistic modes such as drawing, painting, music, dance and the like provide an avenue for patients to express their emotions, an effort to get them unleashed would be beneficial.
No facilities
Though there are such events and specific institutions devoted to the task in other countries, “In Sri Lanka we don’t have such facilities, neither for children nor for adults. We know some cancers are terminal. If we could at least give them the opportunity to enjoy the time they have on this earth,” he mused.
He proposed that when such events are organised for the benefit of places such as the Apeksha Hospital, if the organisers could get the contribution of the patients in the hospital to contribute, it would be more beneficial for them, as they would be socialising mingling with the public, an idea for those who are willing to organise such events in the future.
The incidence of paediatric cancer has been showing an upward trend in the country. Authorities say that the causes could be many, including the effects of air pollution, climate change and the change of lifestyle and dietary patterns. According to available data, the Apeksha Hospital reported an annual new patient load of about 650, and a daily load of about 100 paediatric patients in 2014. Though genetics could play a contributory role in paediatric cancers, the genes are not always passed down to the next generation.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) commonly known as blood cancer is the commonest type of cancer seen in children. While ALL effects almost 30 percent of all childhood cancer patients, it is also curable as 75 to 50 percent could be cured with proper treatment.
Most cancer symptoms are general, like fever, fatigue, back ache, headache and the like. There could also be specific symptoms such as unusual lumps, squints and white pupil in the eye, and lumps and pain in limbs. Early detection plays a vital role in paediatric cancer, as it enables proper treatment and could save lives.
- Pix: Chintha, SriDhana and Rosemarie