Northern Province to benefit from Trail Cancer Hospital

Monday, 13 January 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tellippalai Trail Cancer hospital opens to the public on 19 January at 9 a.m.
Over $ 2 million funds raised by various events organised by Trail

While infrastructures such as road networks, power supply and access to safe drinking water in the Northern Province is established; CEOs

Sarinda Unamboowe (MAS Linea Aqua) and Nathan Sivagananathan (MAS Intimates – MAS Design) founding directors of Trail identified an area which needed much attention – to build a cancer ward in the north. In association with the Ministry of Health, Trail joined hands with Colours of Courage Trust to raise funds for this worthy cause in 2011. Trail launched its fund-raising activities in 2011: the 27 day walk from Point Dondra to Point Pedro covering a trek of 670 kilometres, being the main project, saw Unamboowa and Sivagananathan as the main trail blazers who joined in the walk during the entire period. The journey saw over 30,000 Sri Lankans join hands to walk for a cause that gives hope to those afflicted by cancer and the courage to rise above a disease that continues to ravage many lives across our island nation. To date the project with its various fund raising activities have raised up to Rs. 297,138,000 and a further Rs. 30 million worth of equipment towards the construction. In March 2012 the Colours of Courage Trust formulated a MoU with the Ministry of Health which paved the way for work to commence on the project. On Sunday 19 January the completed Trail Cancer Hospital located in Tellippalai will open for the public, facilitating the much needed state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility including two new wards allotted for males and females, a paediatric high dependency ward, a radiation oncology unit cutting down the transport time between the Jaffna teaching hospital and the Base Hospital in Tellipalai. Trail and the Colours of Courage Trust extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government and the ministries, all sponsors, donors, walkers and well-wishers for their support, encouragement and generous contributions without which a project of this magnitude wouldn’t have been possible. During the 27 day Trail the two CEOs found some time to blog their experiences: Nathan Sivagananathan: “This journey has been truly remarkable, the support amazing, and for me, carrying my son and walking through my town with my wife beside me with thousands of well-wishers brought a tear or two to my eyes. Every day I woke up knowing that there will be another 26 kilometres of experience I will gain, not forgetting the blisters and slight pain, the heat and humidity - then I remembered the pain and suffering we are trying to alleviate of all those cancer patients with this walk and that gave me hope, that gave me courage and strength to see this journey to the end. For all of you who have supported me in numerous ways and have contributed generously towards this cause, thank you very much. ” Sarinda Unamboowe: “The support we received all along the way was incredible. People all along the route, regardless of race or religion stepped out to greet us, to cheer us on and to support us with their contributions. We received food and drink from random people along the way, we received ovations from school children who stood to line the roads and we were joined by thousands of walkers. Sri Lanka has stood up to prove to the world, we are united, we are proud of whom we are. This is One Sri Lanka!” For more information on the Colours of Courage Trust and Trail visit www.coloursofcourage.com and www.trailsl.com.