Kathmandu, March 29

Dirghajeevi Voluntary Group, a non-governmental and self-funded organisation working for the welfare of children living with cancer, is organising a 600 km cycle rally from April 13.

Samir Shrestha, president of DVG, said, “Our objective is to raise awareness and collect fund for children living with cancer,” he said, adding, “We also plan to set up a transit shelter, where children suffering from cancer will be accommodated free of cost during treatment.”

The cycle rally will start from Imadole, Lalitpur and end at Chisapani of Karnali Zone covering a distance of 600 km. The rally will pass through various areas of Chitwan, Butwal, Lamahi, and Kohalpur.

More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in the rally, said Shrestha, adding, “We have been organising several programmes in schools and colleges in the Kathmandu Valley to collect fund for setting up the shelter,” he added.

The organisation wants at least 30,000 people to benefit through the awareness program.

“After the completion of our campaign, the organisation will conduct a flashback program and funds will be raised during the concluding function,” he said. “We will hand over the fund to Kanti Children’s Hospital for the treatment of children living with cancer,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Kailash Prasad Shah, spokesperson, Kanti Children’s Hospital, said DVG has been helping the hospital by collecting blood and providing educational materials as well as objects of recreation and refreshment for children at Kanti Hospital.