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Association for Guidance, Education and Support
92, Lady Ratan Tata Medical Center, Cooperage, Mumbai, 400021
Phone: 022-22047823 / CANCER HELPLINE : 086524-00000
email : info@epassages.org, website : www.epassages.org
 
THE TEAM : Dr. Tarana Khubchandani, Kaya Shewakramani, Valerie Singhvi, Dr. Coomi B. Singh
 

 
  Editorial
 
A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been,accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.
– William Shakespeare
Friendship is an interesting kind of love. There's no contract legally binding you two together, there's no unspoken rule about loving each other unconditionally, and there's no real binding commitment to the opposite person other than what you are willing to put in to the relationship.

But maybe these are the reasons why our friendships are so valuable. The option is always there to back out at any time, and yet, with the really, really authentic ones, we never do.

Through the 16 years of PASSAGES we have created friendships, which are familial and nurturing! Each one unique and loving! So grateful for having you all in this family!

Kaya Shewakramani
Cancer Health Programme
• ADOPT-A-PATIENT - This initiative, started in April 2013, now has 13 underprivileged patients from the Cama and Albless Mother and Child Hospital, being supported by us for all their cancer-related treatments, i.e., chemotherapy/radiation therapy. Supporting patients at this stage is, most certainly, a step with positive benefits for such women and their families. The co-ordination and identification of such patients is supervised by Dr. Dilip Nikam (Head, Radiation Oncology) and his medical team. These patients have already started benefitting from the entire line of our sponsored treatment, pre- and post-surgery. The on-going financial support extended by our Association in taking these women from 'illness to wellness' has been very well received.
• MEDICINE BANK - From September 2013 to date, 130 cancer patients from the Cama and Albless Mother and Child Hospital, have regularly been receiving Chemotherapy tablets, as per their individual requirements. This is also an on-going endeavor.
• APPEAL PATIENTS - Our team at PASSAGES also screens other individual financial assistance appeals that come to our office. From April 2013 to date, we have extended financial aid to 15 such patients (as against bills provided by them) for their cancer treatment.
 
A big 'thank you' to our counselors Rupali Tulshan and Hemal Chandan for streamlining the Cama Hospital project with Dr. Nikam and to our staff Rita Advani and Snehal Salve for their dedication and regularity in distributing the medicines to patients at the hospital.
 
The Pink Filly
The Pink Filly Art Event: January 26, 2014
The charity evening function held at the Palladium Hotel saw a number of celebrities attend to support our PASSAGES' Breast Cancer Awareness programme. The Pink Filly - an art exhibit of horseheads – organized by.The Gallery Art & Soul, sculpted by renowned sculptor Arzan Khambatta and subsequently painted by distinguished artists, were on display, for sale, to help support treatment of underprivileged cancer patients.
 
 
 


 
 
 
• Dr. Tarana Khubchandani commenced the evening with a straight-from-the-heart talk and set the mood for the rest of the event; Mrs. Nita Ambani, in her speech as Guest of Honour, also helped in raising awareness about early detection and Diana Hayden, former Miss World, ably hosted the entire show. The evening included a hilarious mimicry/comedy act by multi-talented Arzan Khambatta, a touching, personal story of winning her fight against cancer by Ms. Naina Thakker and a very relevant Cancer awareness message by onco-surgeon, Dr. Vijay Haribhakti. A beautiful musical performance by Sarosh Nanavaty, followed by dinner, completed this very successful event.
• The audience was also given details of a specially designed Mastectomy Blouse that comes fitted with an inbuilt prosthesis that aims at curing the social trauma associated with Mastectomy. This is the brainchild of talented Delhi-based designers Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja and is custom made in different sizes and colours. PASSAGES is the first Mumbai-based NGO that they have collaborated with. One can even contribute by sponsoring a blouse to a Mastectomy patient. Contact our Helpline (8652400000) for more details.  
• Sculptor/artist Arzan Khambatta and ace photographer Ritam Banerjee had also designed a beautiful table calendar especially for PASSAGES to support us in our cause of awareness. Mrs. Nita Ambani unveiled this. The proceeds from this sale will also go towards our Medicine Bank project.
• Our sincere gratitude to the Gallery Art & Soul for the planning and execution of this event and being a huge assistance towards the PASSAGES' Medicine Bank initiative. A big 'thank you' also to: Priya Lambah, Jaya Lamba, Kanchan Khubchandani, Simran Khubchandani, Sumati Yog, Binaifer Havaldar Antia and Priyanka Shewakramani for their constant and untiring help! We extend our sincere thanks to Manisha Pamnani for her beautiful floral decorations created for the event.
The Pink Filly Passages' Race: February 9, 2014
  The afternoon saw PASSAGES' members and well wishers gather at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in support of The Pink Filly Race organized by the Dr. S.C. Jain Sprinters' Championship. About 15 of these horse head sculptures, hand painted by leading artists were on display and sold to raise money for Breast Cancer patients. Leading artist Paresh Maity who had received a 'Padma Shri' this year painted the horsehead sculpture, which was gifted to the Jain family. Two more beautiful trophies - horse paintings on ceramic tiles - were created by internationally renowned ceramic artist Manoel Felipe Pereira and gifted on that day. The owner of the winning horse took home a rare piece of art and supported the treatment of an underprivileged patient – all in one stroke! Diana Hayden gifted the trophy on behalf of PASSAGES. Stage and Theatre personality, Raell Padamsee, and her group enthralled the spectators throughout the afternoon with a series of foot tapping dances and music to highlight the Passages' paddock where the horseheads were displayed.
We, at PASSAGES, extend our gratitude to Mr. Vivek Jain (Chairman, RWITC) and his family for their kind support and encouragement in our cause of supporting underprivileged Breast Cancer patients.
 
 
 
   
     
 
 
 
We are very grateful to Mrs. Meeta Jain for personally coordinating this entire show.
Also, a very big 'thank you' to Ms. Raell Padamsee and her group for the afternoon entertainment and to Diana Hayden for gracing the occasion.
  
'Gift Your Time' Volunteer Project
In April 2006, we had launched this much-needed initiative with the objective of offering our members an opportunity to volunteer their time to help empower and impart a skill to lesser-privileged children residing at shelters, orphanages and special homes.
Our NGO also takes part on a regular basis in various Charity Carnivals to distribute awareness literature and sell products created by members; proceeds from items sold at our stall go to fund our Medicine Bank project.
St. Jude's Child Care Centre, Lower Parel : February 14, 2014
Kaya Shewakramani and Snehal Salve (PASSAGES) along with volunteer Arpana Khanna, hosted a party for the children at this Centre. These children are all Cancer-affected coming from distant areas in India; they come to Mumbai to be treated free of cost at the Tata Memorial Hospital. The St. Jude's Child Care Centres in India provide these children hygienic homes, parallel activities that enhance their health and a conducive environment so that they respond better to their medical treatment.  
The afternoon party included a craft activity - photo-frame designing; a photo of each child with some fun props was also clicked and was the highlight of the afternoon! Refreshments followed. Donations for the refreshments and snacks served also came from our members and well-wishers
C-Kids Party: March 18, 2014
   
Cancer afflicted children from various government hospitals were brought by the Asian Cancer Foundation to attend the C-KIDS party hosted by the Breach Candy Club from 11 am – 2 pm. Our volunteers Rashna Doongaji and Arpana Khanna along with Snehal Salve from PASSAGES conducted the craft activity for these children.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Cancer Awareness Drive
 
Festival of Charities, organized by the Indus International Group. YMCA, Colaba.  
  December 7, 2013
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.  
February 1-5, 2014
 
At this Festival, Gibson Guitars placed five 10-feet guitar-shaped 'canvases' strategically around the venue. One was given to PASSAGES to paint our awareness message and draw attention to the Indian Cancer Society stall where PASSAGES Breast Cancer literature was distributed on all days. Young, budding artist Siddharth Somaiya painted the guitar installation on site
 
Breach Candy Club
Charity Carnival. 		Design One
Exhibition
  February 15, 2014   March 13, 2014
    The Turf Club, Mahalaxmi. (organized by Sahachari). 11 am – 7 pm.
 
 
   
       
 
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
(Contact our Office for details of all events)
 
• April 16, 2014: CELEBRATING LIFE' – Poetry Reading by Dr. Coomi B. Singh, Followed by lunch. 11 am - 2 pm. Rosewood Hotel, Tardeo.
• April 23, 2014: COPING AND CAREGIVING: A sensitive talk on coping with thevarious aspects of a Cancer diagnosis in the family, as caregivers, followed by an interactive sharing session. 11 am – 1 pm. Rosewood Hotel, Tardeo Facilitated by Cancer Counselor: Rupali Tulshan.various aspects of a Cancer diagnosis in the family, as caregivers, followed by an interactive sharing session. 11 am – 1 pm. Rosewood Hotel, Tardeo. Facilitated by Cancer Counselor: Rupali Tulshan.
• July 18, 2014: 'THE DARK SIDE OF THE LIGHT CHASERS' (Part 1). Dr. Rani Raote's Workshop based on this book. 11 am - 1 pm. Rosewood Hotel, Tardeo.
• August 22, 2014: Dr. Rani Raote's Workshop (Part 2).
     
     
Getting the Love You Want - a Report - November 22, 2013
Dr. Rani Raote had facilitated this workshop, introducing relationship insights. Creating a good relationship worth one's partner in life is not only about good communication and anger management skills. Now, research shows how infancy experiences and childhood affect our adult functioning with the others and the opposite sex. Early experiences with our caretakers lay the foundation for the kind of relationships we will have in adult life by unconsciously affecting the way we perceive ourselves, how we are attracted to potential partners and how we relate to them in ways that are satisfying and also in ways, which cause painful conflicts. Marriage counseling methods guided by this research and theory are showing promising results for couples. When partners understand how they are consciously recreating early patterns, they can consciously choose to undo this early programming and create mutually satisfying relationships. This talk introduced the basic concepts of this research and image theory based on the best selling book ' Getting the Love You Want – A Guide for Couples,' by Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt.