A group of children suffering from cancer, for whom going to crowded places is restricted because of their compromised immunity, spent a few hours at a zoo in New Town recently.
Sixty children between 1 and 17 years saw animals at Harinalaya in Eco Park, clicked pictures and, of course, took selfies on November 18.
The initiative was taken by Spreading Smiles, a group on social media that organises events for children once a month.
Almost every two minutes, a child walked up to Vishal Goyal, founder of the group, and said “thank you”.
“It was rewarding and I could understand they were happy. I will not be able to cure them or change their lives, but I am satisfied to give them momentary happiness,” said Goyal.
He formed the group in July 2014, a month after his father died of cancer.
“Cancer is a disease that creates mental stress not just for the patients but also for their families. Today, the parents accompanied the children,” he said.
Most of the children are being treated for leukaemia, a few for retinoblastoma and some for tumours.
The children live in a residential facility for cancer patients — Premashraya, a unit of Tata Medical Center.
“The children or their young parents are struggling, both physically and mentally, and this event was a welcome change. Since the children are immuno-compromised they are not taken to crowded places,” said Sudeshna Dutta, head of operations, Premashraya.
Spreading Smiles works with children of shelter homes and orphanages.
In October, a group was taken for pandal-hopping.
“While the children need food, shelter and other necessary things to survive, they also need someone to talk to and play with, someone to listen to their stories and support them mentally. We hope what we are doing for these children today, they will do for others when they grow up,” said Goyal.