walkathon – Chennaionline

In a powerful show of solidarity and purpose, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Chennai, hosted a Walkathon at Besant Nagar Beach to mark “World Organ Donation Day”. The event brought together families, children, healthcare professionals, and members of the public in support oforgan donation, a cause that holds the potential to save countless lives. Acclaimed actor and chief guest Ms. Devayani flagged off the walkathon with an address that highlighted the impact of collective community action in building a more informed and health-conscious society. Her presence set the tone for the morning, which saw over 300 + participants walk the Besant nagar beach stretch,united by a shared commitment to raising awareness around organ donation. Organ donation is a life-saving act in any context, but its significance becomes even more profound when it involves children. In India, an estimated3,000 children are estimated to need a liver transplant annually, but less than 150 procedures are actually performed each yeartransplants every year, yet only a fraction receive them due to low awareness, delayed referrals, and the emotional complexity surrounding organ donation. The gap between demand and availability is stark, and time, especially in paediatric cases, is often the most critical factor. Rainbow Children’s Hospitals as a group has been a committed voice and clinical leader in this space, with over 100 paediatric transplants performed across its network to date. These procedures have given critically ill children a renewed chance at life while offering hope to countless families. In addition to medical care, Rainbow actively works to improve public understanding, counsel families in need, and support donor families through some of the most difficult decisions they may ever face. The walkathon was not just a symbolic gathering but a reminder of the lives that can be saved through awareness, timely action, and collective will. Organ donation is a vital, life-saving act, especially when it comes to children who often face urgent and complex medical challenges. This walkathon serves as an important platform to raise awareness and encourage more people to become donors. Every conversation, every pledge can make a real difference in closing the gap between the number of children waiting for organs and those who receive them in time. “Today we have come together to emphasise that organ donation is a vital, life-saving act, especially when it comes to children who often face urgent and complex medical challenges. This walkathon serves as an important platform to raise awareness and encourage more people to become donors. Every conversation, every pledge can make a real difference in closing the gap between the number of children waiting for organs and those who receive them in time.” – Dr. Somasekara, Senior Consultant- Pediatric Hepatology & Liver transplantation, Rainbow Children’s Hospital.