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| Who We Are |  |
| Evolution | |
| Our Team | |
| Honours List | |
| Our Branches | |
| International Impact | |
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Our Team | ||||||||||||||||
| Y.
K. Sapru
Mr. Sapru's association with cancer patients began way back in 1969, when his mother was admitted to Tata Memorial Hospital for some tests. On the bed alongside was a little girl battling leukemia. Although her prognosis was good, her family did not have the funds to support the recommended chemotherapy treatment. Mr. Sapru, along with a few friends, stepped in and raised the money required for the treatment. Jaya Jhabbar was cured and CPAA took wing. It was Mr. Sapru who coined the phrase "Total Management of Cancer", the credo that has been the cornerstone of CPAA's philosophy all these years. "Big hospitals like Tata's," says Mr. Sapru, "are inundated with such a huge number of patients that they tend to forget that they are dealing with human beings, often frightened, ignorant and in strange surroundings. They treat the malignancy, but they do not have the time to answer 'stupid' questions. We treat each patient as an individual and an effort is made to recognise each one’s unique problems and address them fully. There have been cases where we have found accommodation for a family that has come from a remote corner of India, got a sibling admission in a school in Mumbai, arranged for the father's employment besides giving medical aid and guidance for the patient." "Our work has evolved from just aid disbursement to the full spectrum of activities that CPAA covers today. This is the only way the movement can go ahead. We have a tremendous ability to grow. My task is to see that activity continues without diluting the philosophy."
Silooben vividly remembers Jaya Jhabbar who was the first patient to be aided by CPAA. "She really blossomed with our attention," says Silooben, "She had to undergo chemotherapy and all her hair fell out. Her grandfather would sit watching her sadly. We would counsel them. But she was a true fighter. Her own personal will to live ensured her survival ... she was all there. That initial success with Jaya was the motivation for renewed efforts in the form of donations of medicines, food, fruits and newspapers." In the early days, Silooben and Mr. Sapru would spend Saturdays going from shop to shop asking for donations (just Rs.1 per month, Rs. 12 a year to begin with), but even that was hard to come by. And so, Silooben came up with the idea of the first "fund raising programme". She invited Begum Akhtar to perform for CPAA. Although the association offered to pay for the artiste's travel and put her up at Ambassador Hotel, Begum Akhtar refused to accept payment and opted for a cheaper hotel to save money. Silooben recollects the day when a gentleman dressed in an "ordinary dhoti and kurta" came to our office at Malhotra House, and just sat quietly for several hours, refusing to give his name, but watching the proceedings. "When he left he gave us a cheque for Rs. 10,000," says Silooben, "It was Mr. Zaver Chand Mehta, owner of the Roxy Cinema. Later he even offered to build a hospital to match Tata Memorial Hospital. For quite a while, CPAA raised funds by organising film premieres (the first was Raj Kapoor's smash hit, Bobby). Now, Silooben has never been very fond of Hindi movies (the only movie she had seen was 'Shakuntala' and the only stars she knew of were Raj Kapoor and Nargis), so when someone offered her Rs.500 for her Rs.100 ticket, she took it and gave the money to CPAA! "At one of our premieres," recollects Silooben, "I had to garland Amitabh Bachchan. I told him to bend over; otherwise a ladder would have to be ordered. It was the first time I saw him smile. Otherwise he was always grumpy." Silooben has also used her connection with Dimple Kapadia's parents (she knew them from a holiday spent in Panchgani) to rope the gorgeous actress into CPAA activities. Rekhaji calls Silooben "CPAA's cannon ball." Her expertise lies in opening doors that are shut to mere mortals. For the future, Silooben wants to see CPAA become self-sufficient. "We really must find ways to make ends meet." Her able & resourceful team consists of our fund-raisers - Zainab Allana, Phul Mathur, Kavita Kulkarni, Shailja Singh and Zakia Topiwalla. Journalist (regular columns in Dharamyug and Eve's Weekly magazines), radio and TV artiste (she initiated the programme 'Khel Khilone' for Doordarshan), Rekhaji, as she is affectionately called, is one of the original founder members of CPAA. When her husband, Mr. Y. K. Sapru , started CPAA in 1969, the daily running of the fledgling organisation fell on Rekhaji by default. It so happened that this was a task she was well suited for, given her exposure to social work from childhood, due to her mother's activities in the field. She had also written a column 'Upchar Samachar' for Dharamyug answering readers queries related to medical problems, experience that stood her in good stead when handling the queries of cancer patients and their families. "The first 15 years were very difficult. Our activities had to be restricted to giving medical aid and guidance. We had a vision, but every day was a struggle. It was heart breaking to have to turn away people who needed economic help, although guidance and medical advice was freely given. At that time, it was Siloo Jasdanwalla who was the strength behind our endeavours. She was our cannon ball and would often open doors that were otherwise closed to us."
Mrs. Rekha Sapru, Honorary Joint Secretary, Cancer Patients Aid Association, was honoured with the Giants Award, 1999 in the field of Social Service. The photograph shows Rekhaji receiving the award of recognition from Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw at a function held on 17th September, 1999. Giants International honoured Rekhaji for her outstanding contributions at the Giants Anniversary Celebration on its Founder's Day.
Along with a team 5 doctors, she started holding OPDs to screen persons with a perceived high cancer risk, the objective being to catch the disease early when there is a greater chance of full recovery. For almost a decade, Dr Bakre and her team conducted OPDs at the Sophia College Medical Centre, but a burst of negative publicity made the organizers, the Midtown Rotary Group, back out. "For a few days," remembers Dr Bakre, "we were literally out on the street. But we did what we were there to do, which is to carry on with the OPDs." "Soon after, Dr. (Mrs.) Fernandes of St. Elizabeth Nursing Home stepped in and allowed us the use of their premises for our OPDs, and we operated from there for 7 years until 1987. Now, of course, we have our own centres at Prabhdevi and Naigaon, and we have never looked back. We have a band of dedicated doctors, who we can count on to help out whenever needed." "Initially we had to use the word 'cancer' very cautiously when announcing a Screening camp. Today with greater awareness, people are not as frightened to come for checkups," says Dr Bakre. "For the future, I would like to see the diagnoses extended to their logical conclusion, i.e. complete treatment. "
In 1987 she was shifted to the then newly created Adams Wylie Hospital Cancer Centre to set up the pathology laboratory supporting the Early Detection facility. Here she pioneered the techniques that went on to become the standard cancer-screening format. The same techniques are now also being used in the new state-of-the-art Cancer Detection Centre at Naigaon. Here, Alka's experience at Adams Wylie helped her to set up a fully equipped centre with the latest radiology, mammography, sonography and pathology facilities. 1991 saw Alka's enthusiasm being channelized into Fund Raising, and in the first Rose Day drive in 1994, hers was the highest collection. Under Alka's leadership, the Cancer Insurance Policy program has gone from strength to strength with a number of corporate bodies opting for cover. Alka was actively involved in the initiation of the Anti Gutkha Campaign, which seeks to educate school children about the ill effects of smokeless tobacco, the consequences of addiction and how to kick the habit. Starting August 1999 she has been visiting schools all over Mumbai to deliver a series of lectures. Alka was instrumental in setting up the Well Womens Clinic, an initiative to screen 800 economically backward women for breast cancer. These women are taught the importance of personal hygiene, given a gynaecological examination (including a Pap Smear Test and free mammogram), and taught how to do a Breast Self Examination. Felicitation of Ms. Alka Kapadia
"They convinced me to leave Doordarshan and join them," exclaims Manju, a hint of disbelief in her voice. During the next two years, Manju made 5 low cost audiovisuals for CPAA. These were greatly appreciated and raised awareness about our activities and us. Soon afterwards, Manju was assigned to the newly sanctioned Adams Wylie Memorial Hospital where the Red Cross had given space to CPAA. The Rehabilitation Centre had just started shop, with one person and a single machine. "I would visit exhibitions looking for ideas," says Manju, "to see what was selling. I identified unique items with the view to value addition." One such item was the homely diya. Manju’s daughter, Salone, was roped in to jazz it up and 10 years on, our designer diyas still sell like hot cakes at exhibitions in Mumbai and Pune. Manju has used her creativity to develop a range of merchandise. Each item is produced with an eye to detail. "We want our clients to come to us again and again. If we do not make a competitive piece, we may have one sympathetic purchase, but there will be no follow up. The first time that I took a sample to Taj, the hotel got our piece copied but did not buy from us. The next year, they came to us and they have remained loyal over the years." Manju’s core team consists of Ashwini Chalke, Maria & Rashmi more Rehabilition Activities...>>
"In those early days," reminisces Gulshan, "CPAA operated out of a small room and the staff consisted of Naseem Matani, Dolly Rizvi and Zainab Allana. Activities were slow and consisted of aid disbursement to about 10-15 people. Rs.500 per month was enough for the month’s medicines. Zainab collected donations through moneyboxes placed at various locations throughout Mumbai. OPDs were held at St. Elizabeth Nursing Home and Mrs. Paraskar and Suraiya (who is still with CPAA after all these years) would analyse Pap smear slides at the Dysplasia clinic at Cama Hospital." "Every month we would be given a budget and were asked to stay within it, but this could be very difficult. Patients would come for aid but often we had to turn them away for lack of funds. It was the first time I saw grown men cry. I would end up exceeding the budget, and at times I would make up the difference from my own pocket." "As CPAA grew, we acquired our first vehicle, an ambulance in 1986. We now have 11 vehicles including ambulances, jeeps and vans, which allow us to provide free transportation to patients. In 1987, we acquired the Agripada premises, derelict barracks at the time, and soon the Patient Aid shifted here from Malhotra House. Rehabilitation activities were started in a big way. A Social Worker was appointed for the first time, when Mrs. Kumud Singh joined CPAA. And the Tuesday OPD held at St. Elizabeth moved to Agripada." "CPAA went from strength to strength after that, starting with lectures and camps, and culminating with the opening of the Smt. Panadevi Dalmia Cancer Management Centre at King George V Memorial. Fund Raising activities too were changing. From moneybox collections, we moved to movie premiere shows, starting with the smash hit, Bobby. Each movie premiere used to net us about Rs 20,000, which was a lot of money then." "In those days," remembers Gulshan, "the Government of India would give the proceeds of taxes raised from races at Mahalakshmi to a chosen organisation. Through the good offices of Mr. B.G. Deshmukh, then Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a CPAA patron, we were beneficiaries every year from 1989 to 1995. Today Gulshan is CPAA’s Director, Administration, looking after all the daily running of the association, and handling all the work that goes into running an organisation like CPAA. That covers accounting, including income, lending receipts, bank accounts, fund raisers accounts, patient aid accounts, direct collections from credit cards; mailing, including mailers for Rose Day; publicity and printing souvenirs, etc. One of her important functions is arranging licences for programmes. "We have had a couple of embarrassing experiences in the past," admits Gulshan, "when the organizers failed to inform us about the program so that we could arrange for permissions. Now we are careful about it." Gulshan has been with CPAA through most of its ups and downs, and it is her efforts that keep the gears turning smoothly.
"My interaction with CPAA started in 1989," says Shubha, "My mother had breast cancer in 1986. After surgery, chemotherapy and later, investigations on a second suspicious lump in 1988, which turned out to be benign, we thought she was cured. It was a shock when we found that she had suffered a relapse and this time the cancer had spread to her bones and lung. She was so depressed that she refused to consider a second round of chemotherapy." "This is when I met Mr. Sapru at a party. I happened to mention my mother’s case and he immediately told me to bring her over. I will never forget that meeting in his office at J&J. The genuineness of his response to her questions made my mother change her mind about chemotherapy and raised her morale immensely. He also introduced us to Dr. Durga Gadgil, who helped her to deal with the pain she was suffering. I realized that this was an organization that tackled the problems of cancer in a positive, sympathetic manner. And I resolved to help the cause when the opportunity arose." "That opportunity came 10 years later when we returned from England. I happened to meet Mr. Sapru again in a restaurant, and knew that destiny called." As it turned out, CPAA was looking for help in setting up their website. Having seen what this relatively new medium could achieve abroad, Shubha felt that this was a project worth pursuing. "The website will provide a means to make CPAA’s activities known to a wider audience. It will help us network with similar organizations globally. Most importantly, we hope it will make it easier to reach potential customers of products produced by the Rehabilitation Centre, thus making us economically self-sufficient." Vinaya Chacko, heads the most vital Patient Care Department, has been with CPAA since 1990. She joined CPAA after acquiring a Bachelors degree in Arts (Social Sciences) from SNDT College, Mumbai. Her repertoire
of activities include registration of patients, hospitals visits, She has received special training through programs like Breast Cancer Support Group Volunteers Training course organized by Indian Cancer Society and Sahachari Mastectomees Association and Training Progamme in Social Work for Volunteers organized by Department of Extra Mural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Science. She recently also attended The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) at the CICG , Geneva, Switzerland, where she made a presentation on " Art Therapy for Cancer Afflicted Children". Her team comprises of one of the most exceptional and dedicated social workers like Iva Athavia, Jennifer Quadros, Halima Aurangbadkar and Sonali Atre. more Patient Care Activities...>>
Neeta is grateful to CPAA for her transformation from a hesitant newcomer to the confident head of department she is now. She remembers wryly her first camp at Jam Mills on her second day at work when she was called upon to fill in for someone who called in sick at the last minute. "Initially, the medical terms on the forms were unfamiliar and strange, but soon I became comfortable with them. I found my feet very fast." When CPAA was started 30 years ago, the main focus was to help poor and needy cancer patients. But over the years, it was realized that the main problem in India is one of lack of knowledge about the lifestyles that cause cancer and the importance of screening in catching the disease at an early stage when it is curable. From this realization emerged the Awareness and Early Diagnosis Department. Department members deliver lectures and arrange camps at factories, mills and offices. The employees are told about the hazards of lifestyle factors like tobacco abuse and early marriage which cause cancer and are subsequently screened for warning signs. It is not enough to carry out an isolated screening. It is important to follow up those cases where warning signs are detected, to ensure that the individual has actually changed his habits. There is a great deal of resistance on the side of both the workers and the management to such camps. Over the years, Neeta has developed a special ability to reach the person in charge and arrange camps where they are most needed. Besides factories like Permacel (Andheri), Mahindra & Mahindra (Goregaon), the Passport Office and hotels like Orchid, she has reached jails, police stations, even red light areas. She has consciously formed alliances with social workers in various fields and organisations like CORO (Community Out Reach Organisation), CORP (Community Out Reach Programme), YUVA (Youth Voluntary Organisation), organisations who work with street children like Sneh Sadan, Amchi Kholi, Ghar Ho To Aisa and paramedical social workers, to reach the underprivileged who would not be able to access such facilities in the normal way. She talks about the camp she organised at Kamathipura, Mumbai's notorious red light area. Not only the sex workers, but also their children were screened and counseled. Their stories troubled her for a long time afterwards. The daily sights the children were subjected to found release in all kinds of substance abuse. Older children forced tiny 3-year-olds into addictions such as sniffing solvent. While the work can be frustrating, Neeta prefers to dwell on her successes. She gives the example of a talk she gave last year for children at "Ghar Ho To Aisa" organised by YUVA, Dadar. The 15-16-year-old children listened avidly and asked many questions. A week later she received a call from the social workers saying many of the children had been motivated enough to give up their addictions. This year she again visited them with posters and handouts to reinforce the message. Similarly she talks about camps held at Dharavi. It is always hard to get women to come forward for screening. They are especially reluctant to get the Pap test done. Men, too, feel that cancer is a disease that will not happen to them or that they would rather not know. Through the intervention of other organisations and because of the lectures given prior to the screenings, there is much better compliance and follow up. A number of people have been diagnosed with cancer at CPAA's camps. Neeta relates the story of a lady who had come in casually to talk to one of the other employees. Neeta convinced her to undergo a check up and she was found to have a lump in her breast. Within 8 days, she had a biopsy, which confirmed the diagnosis of cancer and immediately underwent a mastectomy. A year and a half later, she thanks Neeta for convincing her to undergo the check-up. Though the camps continue to be a great expenditure for CPAA, whenever a case of cancer is detected through the screening process, the money seems well spent. Neeta's dream is to see these activities spread further and reach people outside Mumbai as well and she is working actively in this direction. She recently completed the UICC's APCASOT Fellowship for a study that she undertook on the topic prevention and Early Detection at the Queensland Cancer Fund(QCF), Australia. In this her team consisting of Minal Parab, Kirti Pandit, Anagha Wadke and Rupali Dalvi ably assist her. more Diagnostic Activities...>>
A mammoth job for a NGO, whose purpose is not business but propagation of its Mission, of Total Management of cancer. Today Anita heads the Cancer Insurance Policy Dept. She is also the proud recipient of the UICC's APCASOT Fellowship for a study she undertook on the methodology utilised to combat tobacco issues and cancer screening at the Queensland Cancer Fund(QCF), Australia. She also plays a very vital rote in Event Management and shares a major responsibility in organising events for the association, be it fund raising or patient care oriented. Anita's liaising skills benefited the organisation in the form of donations and goodwill. She is ably supported by her team consisting of Goretthi Rodrigues, Poonam Bhovar, Anila Thale & Pradnya Ghetkewar. Her passion for work and care for the patients is exhibited in all her interactions. No task is impossible for her and no work too small. more Insurance Policy Activities...>>
Her repertoire of activities include organizing Fund-raising Events, to engage celebrities from the Film, TV & Fashion fraternity to advocate and support the cause of Tobacco control and promote Prevention & Early detection campaigns, to formulate schemes for Public Awareness about Cancer & Early Detection, to designing & create material for awareness campaigns (Brochures, billboards, pamphlets etc.) to organise entertaining & recreational programs for cancer patients, (especially children). She is also responsible for Server administration & Email management, IT Training, Support & Networking. She is also responsible for maintaining and updating our exhaustive and informative website www.cpaaindia.org with regular articles, E-newsletter, special appeals & events. She brings with her the much needed technological expertise which has helped CPAA in constantly updating and upgrading themselves. In 2007, she successfully completed her UICC APCASOT fellowship at the Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Australia. Her project for this fellowship was 'Fundraising Strategies' Kiran
Hukku On taking charge of the Delhi Chapter, she constructed a highly motivated team and brought in many changes and new activities. Since then her life has been totally devoted to this noble cause. Under her guidance CPAA Delhi has gone from strength to strength. The Delhi branch got its first van in 1987 thanks to her initiative. Today the branch has one ambulance and three vans, which are used for its various patients oriented activities. Kiran had a vision to create a Diagnostic cum Detection center for the poor in the National Capital Region. Her vision became a reality in 2007 when Global Charity Foundation, USA agreed to lend full monetary support to this project and SOS Aangpur provided space. This center is scheduled to open by the end of 2008. Kiran is always available to guide and listen to patients, families and colleagues who come to her for support. Her professional advice laced with motherly concern and affection uplifts the morale of all who come to her and empower them to face their problems bravely and courageously. Her ultimate vision is to make CPAA Delhi a totally independent and self-sufficient branch and to a large extent she has succeeded in this.
Sarla
Kohli
Her initiatives
were appreciated by both patients and doctors. Counselors used the
leaflets to guidepatients through their treatment. She was instrumental in developing both
Delhi and
As I write this, I see Jayshree, smiling, entering the office and into my cabin. I'd know, she has had one of her "talks" with a prospective donor. Narrating her conversation, she would dig into her pocketbook and bring out a cheque and keep it on my table. "This is the donation" she would say, her face gleaming with satisfaction.
Jayshree was never happier than when she brought in funds, for the unfortunate patients. This became a mission of her life. She understood their pain and misery and was always thinking of them. Little did we know then, that this dedicated woman will one day fall a victim to this disease, and leave a void.Not only Cancer Patients Aid Association, Pune lost a reliable hard - to-find worker. I will in my heart, always remember, her struggles, her successes, her patience, fortitude with which she fought this disease and her positive attitude. We spent years in CPAA working together, laughing, crying with the situations. Its hard to forget. I will miss Jayshree. So will many others, especially the patients. May her soul rest in peace.
Our heart goes out to her husband and her family. We at Cancer Patients Aid Association will miss her terribly. It is unbelievable that she is no more with us. |
CPAA's
Founder Chairman, Mr. Y.K. Sapru, is an experienced pharmaceutical professional
who has had long stints with John Wyeth and Brother (where he progressed
from Sales Representative to Marketing Director) and Johnson & Johnson
(where he spent ten years in their pharmaceutical division and 7 years
in the diagnostic division). It is his vision and farsightedness that
has seen a germ of an idea mature into the well-respected association
that CPAA is today.
On
11th January 2004, CPAA was presented an award for Social Marketing and
Awareness at the Third Indira Awards for Marketing Excellence. The
Awards are recognised by the industry as a leading benchmark for competitive
Excellence.
Silooben,
as everyone in CPAA calls her, used to work with Mr. Sapru at John Wyeth,
where she was Family Planning Officer. When he started CPAA, he felt that
she would be a valuable asset and asked her to join as Honorary Secretary.
The first breakthrough came
with the celebration of CPAA's 15th anniversary when the President of
India, Giani Zail Singh was the distinguished guest at an exhibition on
cancer arranged by the association. "The next 15 years saw
an exponential growth in our activities. Today CPAA is well known for
its many achievements and we find ready volunteers coming forward from
all walks of life, but are still turning away people who come to us for
help due to our limited funds. In future I would like to see our reach
increasing. I also want to see CPAA become independent and self-sufficient.
Then we can say that our efforts which started with Jaya are truly
victorious." 
Dr.
Shashi Bakre, Medical Director, has been with CPAA since 1971. Dr. Bakre
grew up in Indore where her parents were both practicing doctors. After
marriage, she moved first to Calcutta and then to Mumbai, where she started
practicing as a General Practitioner near Breach Candy Hospital. In 1971,
she was already well known for her social work. Around the same time CPAA's
activities were expanding from just aid disbursement to include the preventive
aspects of cancer treatment. The Saprus met Dr Bakre and convinced her
to join CPAA.
A
graduate in Microbiology (from St. Xaviers College, Mumbai), Alka went
on to obtain the Post Graduate Degree in Medical Laboratory Techniques
offered by Nair Hospital. She joined CPAA fresh from college, as Administrative
Officer in charge of the Head and Neck Project at JJ Hospital. This project
was a Tumour Clinic in which treatment of 15-20 patients with operable
and non-operable tumours was studied systematically. 
If
you were watching Bombay Doordarshan in its early days, you could not
have missed Manju Gupta - she was the first newscaster and newsreader,
presenting programmes in both Hindi and English. In 1974 when she moved
to the US along with her husband, she worked at Cornell University Medical
College during the day and attended a course in Television and Film Production
at night. When she returned to India in 1982, she joined Doordarshan again,
a move that would eventually bring her to CPAA. In 1984 CPAA organized
a Cancer Exhibition, which was inaugurated by the then President of India,
Giani Zail Singh. Manju was sent to cover the event and worked for 5 days
with us, making a feature presentation about our activities. 
Gulshan
was all of 18 years when she joined CPAA in 1979 after school at J.B.
Vaccha (Dadar) and a degree in Economics from Wilson College, Mumbai.
"I heard about the opportunity through a neighbour who worked in
Malhotra House, which was CPAA’s Administrative Office. Initially, my
parents were hesitant to let me work with CPAA, because of the word ‘cancer’
but I managed to convince them," says Gulshan, whose association
with CPAA is now over 20 years old.
Dr.
Shubha Maudgal, a PhD from IIT Mumbai, has worked as Resident Research
Associate at NASA, USA, Technical Services Executive at Johnson &
Johnson, Mumbai, Scientist at Aeronautical Development Establishment,
Bangalore and Research Scientist at National Physical Laboratory, London.
So what brought her to CPAA ?
planning their monthly budgeted medical aid, counseling and support for
patients and their family members, planning house visits for palliative
patients, organising special events, conducting a playgroup for pediatric
patients at Wadia Hospital and at Ernest Borges Home, Mumbai. She has also
started working on a clinical research relating to counseling of breast
cancer patients. 
Neeta
More, Director - Diagnostics Services, has been with CPAA since 1990. Neeta
graduated in Economics and had completed a year studying law. She had
a small son when she heard about CPAA. Her initial job was in Administration,
followed by a stint in Fund Raising, before she found her forte and first
love, the Awareness and Early Diagnosis Department. 
ANITA PETER joined CPAA in 1991
as a blood technician for our daily Detection Camps. In a couple of
years, she headed the pathology team. Her multi faceted nature,
exemplary , communication skills and basic nobilitly saw Anita move from a
technician's post 
Aditi
Bapat joined CPAA in 2001. With a bachelors degree in Commerce &
Economic and a post graduate degree in Software Technology, she heads the
Network & Communications department of CPAA. 
Kiran
Hukku, an alumnus of Ruparel College Mumbai, was a champion sports woman
in school and college. She joined the teaching profession and as
principal, Vidya Niketan School, New Delhi, Mrs. Hukku proved that she was
an educationist par excellence. After the demise of her husband, Mr.
M.N.Hukku, Director, CPAA, Delhi, she took over the charge in 1999. Even
during the directorship of Mr. Hukku, Kiranji worked with her husband from
the very inception of the branch. 
CPAA is grieved to announce that
Mrs. Sarla Kohli, Director,
Bangalore branch and
member of CPAA's managing committee passed away on 13th April, 2008. Mrs.
Kohli
started the Delhi branch in 1980 and headed the branch until she moved to
Bangalore
where she once again used her endless enthusiasm and drive to start the
branch there. Her single minded dedication to the cause saw many unique
initiatives such as the Art Exhibition, introduction of an annual magazine covering CPAA's
achievements
for the year, "Cancer Care", leaflets on various kinds of
cancer. 
JAYSHREE
LILANI had been with Cancer Patients Aid Association since the time the
branch office started in Pune in 1995. She worked devoutly for Cancer
Patients Aid Association and her own experience of the disease helped
cancer patients to come to terms with it. Although weak from the after
effects of medicines she never showed she was ill. She had the inner
strength and courage to raise funds for cancer patients till her last day.
When she breathed her last on 6th March, Cancer Patients Aid Association
lost a true friend.