Girl that received a free heart transplant was honored at the event
Raises funds for 8 month old baby’s surgery
Christmas Mega Dance 2016 a charity event to raise money for free open heart surgery for underprivileged children was held on 26th December 2016 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Pune.
The theme of this event was “A Dance to Save Little Hearts” and funds were raised for the “Saving Little Hearts” project of Marian Cardiac Centre and Research Foundation.
The foundation has helped over 25 children in the last few months to undergo successful heart surgery in different parts of Maharashtra and India. Prominent among them is Miss Divya Ulhare a 12 year old girl who had a successful Heart Transplant surgery in October this year. The total amount of surgery alone was Rs. 12 lakh which was funded by Marian Cardiac Centre and Research Foundation. This girl is a waiter’s daughter and had only few months to live due to very poor functioning of the heart. Her heart function was only 10%. With the timely intervention of Dr. Manoj Durairaj and this foundation funding the surgery, this poor girl now has a new normally functioning heart and can expect a good life ahead.
Dr. Manoj stated that “The vision was to help hundreds of children like Divya who would otherwise die due to lack of resources.”
The Christmas Mega Dance was hosted by St. Patrick’s Cathedral along with the Diocese of Poona. The event was greatly successful and witnessed a footfall of 1500+ people who donated generously for the cause while they continuously danced to the tunes of music along with family and friends. The prominent artistes who performed were the “Syndicate Band” from Goa, DJ Yusuf Kapasi, Cynthia Furtado, Christopher Fonseca and Fabian Alphonso. Teen heartthrob from “Roadies” and “Splitzvilla” Ms. Martina Thariyan graced the occasion in support of this noble cause. The programme was curated by Sebastian Mony.
The proceeds of the charity will go towards open heart surgery of Baby Vinay Khetawata 8 month old baby waiting for urgent surgery in Mumbai.
Dr. Manoj Durairaj thanked Bishop Thomas Dabre (Bishop of the Diocese of Poona), Fr Malcolm Sequeira (Vicar General, Diocese of Poona) and Fr Wilfred Fernandes (Rector, St. Patrick’s Cathedral) for this initiative and also expressed that “Christmas is a season of sharing, love and peace. This event personalizes and epitomized what Christmas means in the truer sense.”