Brightening up the candles in the wind - Colours 2 - Hand in Hand 2018/19
As told by Kavishka Gunaratne
“Children with cancer are like candles in the wind who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light.”
It takes an enormous amount of courage and strength to have to battle a malady as cruel and draining as cancer. Cancer does nothing but doom lives and futures. Yet, the innocent smiles and hopeful eyes of children fighting this strenuous struggle are indeed heart-warming to those watching them. And this was no different to what we witnessed just a few weeks back at ‘Colours – 2’, the second painting session of ‘Hand in Hand 2018/2019’.
‘Colours – 2’ was held on the 4th of March 2019 from 10.30 a.m. onward at the CCC House premises, Maharagama with the participation of around 20 young fighters battling their way through cancer. The day was filled with cheerful laughter and playful banter as the children drew and painted to their hearts’ content. It was wonderful seeing their creative juices flow as they mixed their pastels and neutrals to paint wonderful pictures of the Vesak festival, the theme under which they were asked to draw and paint. Their paintings are to be printed as Vesak cards and the funds raised through those sales are to be donated to the hospital for the well being of these fighters.
Our Rotaractors made it a point to lift up their spirits in whichever way they could manage. The kids were treated by gifts and some delicious food items and it was beyond any doubt that they indeed enjoyed themselves very much that day.
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible”
Christopher Reeve
Hope is what drives these little soldiers and their parents to push through and stand back up again when a disease as unforgiving as cancer brings them down. ‘Hand in Hand’ is a venture that aims to fuel said hope and helping them reach the light at the end of their tunnels. Until next time, we bid farewell to our brave little friends and left, our hearts alight with rejuvenated determination to make their lives better in simple yet mighty ways we can, through ‘Hand in Hand’.
