This Children’s Day, Be a GEM for India’s Little Warriors!

“Oh, what it would be like to be a carefree child again...” Whether it’s during a reunion with old school friends or a conversation with coworkers on a hard day, this sentiment always appears, stirring memories of the “good old days.”

We reminisce about simpler times filled with having fun with friends, learning new things at school, and partaking in the exciting new adventures life has to offer. While nostalgia can often cloud our memories with rose-coloured glasses, it’s important to embrace this foundational time in our lives that made us who we are today.

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While we may remember our childhoods fondly, this may not be the case for many children. This Children’s Day, let’s take the opportunity to acknowledge the challenges faced by these children and learn more about how we can support them.

Children’s Day 2024: Jawaharlal Nehru’s Legacy

Children’s Day, annually celebrated on November 14th, originally started as a movement to raise awareness about the rights, education and welfare of children. It also marks Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary. Fondly known as ‘Chacha Nehru’, he was adored by children. He rightly believed that the future of any country lies in its children.

While he envisioned an India where every child had an equal opportunity to grow, learn and flourish, his vision is still a distant reality today. Many children are still not able to get these opportunities due to various barriers to their growth.

Together, let us honour Nehru’s vision and identify these barriers that hinder their chances at a brighter future.

Challenges Faced By Today’s Children

For many children in India, ‘childhood’ is a luxury they can’t afford. Poverty, neglect, and serious illnesses like cancer cast dark shadows over what should be years of joy, growth, and discovery.

One of the most heartbreaking challenges is the rising incidence of childhood cancer. Each year, over 50,000 children in India receive this devastating diagnosis. Cancer, a painful ordeal for anyone, is particularly cruel when it affects children, leaving their families overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and financial strain as they search for life-saving treatments.

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When children should be playing and dreaming, they’re fighting for their lives, battling pain, and enduring treatments that even adults struggle to comprehend. This cruel reality not only robs them of their innocence but deeply affects their physical, emotional, and social development. To ensure a brighter future for these children, it’s important to delve deeper into the challenges of childhood cancer and help spread awareness to support families in need. 

Also Read: Little Sneha’s Journey Through Cancer: A Mother’s Perspective | #ImpactGuruSuccess

The Reality Of Childhood Cancer

Aside from the physiological challenges faced while battling childhood cancer, the mental and emotional distress faced by the little patient and their loved ones can be daunting. Before they've even experienced the world around them, children are forced to learn resilience and gain strength to fight this deadly disease. 

With little understanding of why they’re suffering, they struggle with feelings of frustration and isolation during invasive cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Another challenge arises in the form of diagnosis, where symptoms are often mistaken for common childhood ailments, leading to a delay in early detection and treatment.

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Hence, it is important to learn more about the different types of rare childhood cancers that may be difficult to diagnose. Some rare childhood cancers are:

1. Pancreatoblastoma: A very rare cancer that originates from the early cells lining the glands in the pancreas.

2. Malignant Rhabdoid Tumours: A rare and aggressive cancer that originates in the kidneys and spreads to other soft tissues or the brain.

3. Pleuropulmonary Blastomas: An aggressive cancer that forms in the lungs, tissue covering the lungs and the inside wall of the chest cavity.

4. Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumours: A rare, benign tumor that grows rapidly around the head and neck region. 

While this just scratches the surface when it comes to childhood cancer, by becoming more informed, we can further spread awareness and help save many young lives.

How Can You Make A Difference?

It is said that small pebbles can have a big impact when they come together to form a stable foundation. As these pebbles work together to provide support, so can you! When united towards a common goal, you can do your part by taking small steps leading towards a big change together. Wondering how?

From raising awareness to supporting a child through their cancer journey by providing emotional and financial relief, every little effort goes a long way. As we all know, cancer treatments can be a great financial burden. For families already going through such a taxing time seeing their little ones in pain, a lack of financial resources can make it extremely difficult to get quality treatments on time.

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Be A GEM For India’s Young Warriors!

ImpactGuru, India’s leading crowdfunding platform, was established with the vision of making healthcare accessible and affordable for every Indian citizen. Through ImpactGuru’s user-friendly platform, innumerable families all over India can raise funds for their little one’s cancer treatments on time. From diagnosis to post-recovery, ImpactGuru extends comprehensive support every step of the way. 

You can also make an impact and become dynamic changemakers through mindful giving with our Give Every Month program!

Give Every Month or GEM enables you to transform your empathy for countless children suffering from cancer into vital action. By joining the GEM mission to save India’s little ones, you can help 12+ children combat cancer and other illnesses every year.

Source: ImpactGuru

To know more about joining the GEM community, click here.

Also Read: Being A GEM Now Gets You Tax Benefits!

Honouring Jawaharlal Nehru’s Vision

As Jawaharlal Nehru once said, “The children of today will make the India of tomorrow.” But for tomorrow’s India to flourish, we must ensure that every child has the chance to grow up healthy, happy, and free to pursue their dreams. 

This Children’s Day, let’s honour Nehru’s legacy by giving every child the childhood they deserve. Together, we can build a brighter tomorrow by standing with India’s children today. 

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Join the GEM community and support children battling cancer. Together, we can make a difference.