V Care, an emotional support group for cancer patients and their families, commemorates its anniversary in February as Cancer Survivors Day. Every year, in the second week of February, cancer survivors and well-wishers get together to celebrate life and encourage those under treatment to fight on. We also take this opportunity to spread the message that people can and do survive cancer and lead a normal meaningful life.

Cancer Survivors' Day was started in India by V Care in 1994, and is now being commemorated in several cities all over the country including Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Jaipur, Bangalore and Coimbatore.

This year, V Care celebrates its tenth year of caring. To celebrate this event, we will host the following events:

Walk with V-Care - A Step Towards Cancer Survival Saturday 14 February 2004, 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm A walkathon on Worli Sea Face will flag off the Cancer Survivors' Day celebrations. The walk aims at informing people about V-Care's role as an emotional support group providing guidance, support and counselling to cancer patients and caregivers. It intends to bring forth V-Care's message that people have a quality life after diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The walkathon is supported by Dilip Sardesai (ex-cricketer) and Giants International.

Children's Funfair and Party Sunday 15 February 2004, 4.30 pm onwards Children under treatment and their families will celebrate Cancer Survivors Day with a funfair and party at Priyadarshini Park. This will allow the children an opportunity to have an evening of fun and entertainment during the course of their treatment.

Ward Visits Tuesday 17 February 2004 Volunteers will visit the wards of the Tata Medical Hospital to distribute tapes providing information on cancer and various modalities of treatment. This will be followed by Zindagi Tum Kyun Gayi, a panel discussion for patients on cancer, from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm at the hospital auditorium. The interactive panel discussion aims to answer questions and queries of patients and caregivers. Eminent oncologists including Dr. Badwe, Dr. Purvesh Parikh and Dr. Rajiv Sarin will be part of the panel.

V Care at Sea! Thursday 19 February 2004, 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm Patients and their families will sail out at sea along with the V Care team.

Dealing with Fears in Cancer Friday 20 February 2004, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm A seminar entitled Dealing with Fears in Cancer would feature a panel of renowned doctors including chairperson Dr. F. Udwadia, Dr. Dinshaw, Dr. S. Pradhan, Dr. V. Haribhakti, Dr. R. Soonawala, Dr. Murli Kamat, Dr. Roshni Chinoy and Asha Kapadia. Topics covered would include self-image and fear of diagnosis, fertility and sexuality, disfigurement, fear of recurrence, heredity and lifestyles, second opinions, the role of voluntary movement, and financial aid, among others. The seminar will be held at the British Council Auditorium, Mittal Towers 'C' Wing, Nariman Point. The seminar is sponsored by Tata Steel.

Tenth Cancer Survivors Day and Presentation of Victor Awards Saturday 21 February 2004, 6.30 pm The celebration of Cancer Survivors Day and the presentation of the Victor Awards serves to emphasise the message that cancer does not necessarily mean death, and offers an opportunity for cancer survivors, patients and their families to meet and share their experiences with each other. The presentation ceremony will be held at Horniman Circle Gardena, and will be attended by Dr. K Dinshaw, director of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mr. Nana Chudasama, eminent doctors and a host of well wishers who have always supported V Care. This event is a tribute to the glowing courage of real life heroes and is sponsored by Hutchison Max Pvt. Ltd.

All V-Care events are being sponsored by Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt. Ltd., Bristol Myers Squibb Co. Tata Steel, Suman Ramesh Tulsiani Charitable Trust, BPL mobile communication Ltd., British Council, Leverina, Himalayan Natural Mineral Water, Rotary Club of Mumbai Queencity, Tata Memorial Hospital, United Apparel, D.S Mittle and Giants.