Cancer affected children on three-day Goa tour

Their joy knew no bounds as the Mangalore Express train carrying  children cancer patients chugged at the Margao railway station early  Thursday morning.

In fact, smiles lit the faces of the 27 children  undergoing cancer treatment at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai as they  alighted at the Margao railway station on early Thursday morning for a  three-day tour to the world famous tourist State.

On their itinerary in Goa during their three-day stay, includes visits to the world famous churches and temples, boat cruising, a day at the silvery beaches et al,  before they all head back to Mumbai on Saturday night on their onward  train journey by the Konkan Railway.

The Konkan Railway Corporation  had been arranging the train travel of the children cancer patients from  the Tata Memorial Centre over the years under the CSR programme. Says KR, Deputy General Manager, RRO Baban Ghatge: “Konkan Railway had been  arranging a three-tier coach to transport the children cancer patients  from the Tata Memorial Centre to Goa every year. It is an initiative by  the Konkan Railway to bring back smiles on the faces of the children.”

While  the KR had been arranging the transport for the children, the Goa  Tourism Development Corporation had been supporting the children by  arranging accommodation and other facilities during their stay in the State.

Swati Mhatre, Jr PRO, Tata Memorial Centre said that parents  of these children, besides volunteers from the Tata Memorial Centre are  accompanying the 27 children, who have completed their cancer treatment  at the hospital. “The KR has arranged a free three-tier coach for the  children, while Goa tourism has arranged accommodation and other  facilities for the children.”

Sanotsh Dattaram Shirwadi, Jr  Administrative Officer, PR, Tata Memorial Centre said the children will  stay in Goa for the next three days before leaving back on Saturday  night. He has thanked KR, Goa Tourism and the well-wishers who have  supported the project of transporting the children cancer patients to  Goa every year.