Bringing Colour to Courageous Hearts

"Colours," the very name adores the essence of this heartwarming project. It was on one fine day that I received a message asking if I would like to be the chairperson of this incredible initiative called Colours, which was born with the noble intention of offering a form of mental solace to cancer patients aged from 3 months to 16 years at the CCC House within Maharagama Apeksha Hospital through the orchestration of delightful drawing sessions. It was a dream come true for me, so why not accept the offer to chair this amazing project? Without a second thought, I readily accepted. From that point until March 22nd, there were many busy and exciting days dedicated to planning this wonderful event.

All preparations commenced in February. I was joined by two other remarkable co-chairpersons, and together, we began working as a team alongside the Directors of Community Service Avenue. The three of us worked tirelessly every day to ensure all tasks were completed before our event day, the 22nd. Throughout the entire process, I discovered a wealth of knowledge that I never would have imagined, and for that, I will always be thankful to Rotaract. Time flew by swiftly, and by the night of the 21st, we were fully prepared with all the art supplies, decorations, and gifts to make this event truly memorable for these brave children.

In a matter of hours, the 22nd arrived, and we embarked on the journey to the CCC House filled with hope, love, color, and happiness. Remarkable volunteers joined us, eager to assist the children with their drawings and participate in the music event. Every imaginable hue was employed to adorn the CCC House, and it was truly incredible to witness our months of hard work come to fruition in a matter of minutes.

Our guests were the children undergoing cancer treatment at the CCC House, and by 2:00 p.m., we were ready to welcome them. The children were drawn to the decorations, balloons, and colors, eagerly curious to see what was happening. We warmly greeted all the mothers and their children to our modest art event, and their excitement was palpable as they immersed themselves in an evening filled with color, music, and joy.

Our aspiration was to serve as a beacon of color for these courageous young hearts battling cancer, and as we began drawing pictures and playing music, it was evident that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Children were everywhere, eager to sketch, and to my amazement, many were far more skilled than I. We engaged with them, assisting in their artistic endeavors. Our young artists produced remarkable and vibrant drawings, with some expressing a desire to create even more.

The rain interrupted us during the final part of the program, but we seamlessly transitioned indoors to continue. We presented the children with a small gift we had prepared—a handmade flower and a red helium-filled balloon. I must admit, the balloons elicited the most enthusiastic reactions from the younger ones. A simple balloon filled with helium and adorned with a crimson ribbon brought them immense happiness. In that moment, I felt that we had already made a difference in their lives. Sometimes, it's the smallest gestures that matter the most.

As the three hours swiftly passed, we reluctantly bid farewell to the kids. At the end of the day, their faces were aglow with joy, and it was incredibly gratifying to have added a splash of color to the lives of these courageous young heroes. Witnessing these small warriors fight such a formidable battle against cancer stirred mixed emotions of delight and despair within us. Nonetheless, it was a privilege to stand by their side, offering them the joy they so rightly deserve.