Chemotherapy makes people weak. For days together, they suffer from side effects, be it back or head ache. So planning on participating in a marathon is probably the last thing on their minds. But not for 48-year-old Mithila Balse.
Chemotherapy makes people weak. For days together, they suffer from side effects, be it back or head ache. So planning on participating in a marathon is probably the last thing on their minds. But not for 48-year-old Mithila Balse.
Three weeks after a chemotherapy session, Balse is all set to participate in the dream run event (7km) of the Mumbai Marathon this Sunday. She has also raised Rs 5 lakh for the Indian Cancer Society which aides people fighting the condition.
Balse has set up a fund-raiser page on United Way Mumbai's website, the philanthropy partners of the Mumbai Marathon. She asked her close and corporate friends to donate to the cause.
The mother of two, who works as a sales director for a bank, was diagonised with ovarian cancer during a routine check-up in August last year. When the doctors found out that she had a 24-inch malignant tumour in her abdomen, they asked her to undergo surgery to remove it and start chemotherapy immediately. On September 1, she went under the knife and her life "has completely changed after that".
She says the toughest part was informing family and friends about it. "For me it was fine you know. I mean, I was operated on and I am pretty cool about it. But I think it is my family that suffers the most. That shows in the way they take care of me."
Balse says she doesn't feel sad about her condition. "Everyone has to die some day right? I should be happy that I'm getting this time. I'm going to do all the stuff I wanted to do, but didn't get the time to do."
So what made her decide to run and raise funds.? "By god's grace I could afford the expensive treatment and operation costs. It made me realise I am very blessed.
"On the other hand, it is heart wrenching to see the lesser privileged cancer patients struggling to cope with the costs of the basic treatment. It is sad that most people are the bread earners for their family and have dependant parents and children and step back from treatment only because they cannot afford to lose their daily wages.
"So many people need the support, need hope to even go to a doctor or a hospital. Therefore, I decided to raise money for them. I know that small donations like this can make a big difference."
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