New Delhi, 8 November 2020: Who can forget Yuvraj Singh’s iconic six sixes! It was the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the left-hand batsman was batting against England. Andrew Flintoff, an all rounder from England tried to irk Yuvraj thinking that it will disturb Yuvraj’s focus and he will lose his wicket. But what followed was an unimaginable event. Those six sixes against the English team in the next over of Stuart Broad, etched Yuvraj’s name in the history. By doing this, Yuvraj became the first Indian batsman and second overall after South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs to do so in the international cricket.
This is the willpower and motivation of India’s cricketer Yuvraj that cancer didn’t know when it hit him in the year 2011. The Indian all-rounder not only defeated the deadly disease but also created a mechanism to help others win this battle against cancer.
He wasn’t even done with the celebrations of World Cup 2011 win, when he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left lung. It was confirmed to be Seminoma Lung Cancer. He proceeded to undergo chemotherapy treatment in Boston and Indianapolis. He was discharged in March 2012 after his third and final cycle of Chemotherapy.
In this process, he realised the brutal reality of many families who face the deadly disease and succumb to it for the unavailability of funds for the treatment. He then decided to establish a non-profit The YouWeCan Foundation for such cancer patients. The non-profit is registered under the Bombay Trust Act, 1965.
It was established with the mission of empowering people to fight cancer, through awareness, early detection, patient support and survivor empowerment.The organisation has helped thousands in their fight.
Yuvraj Singh writes, "I started my foundation, to stand by other cancer patients in their time of need, just like each of you stood by me. To give them hope, courage & strength! Each time someone is diagnosed with cancer in India, I want to give them the message that: "You are not alone. I am with you. YouWeCan is with you. No matter how tough it gets, you must not give up. TOGETHER WE CAN & WILL fight cancer!"
The organistion conduct cancer screening and awareness camps in multiple locations across the country. It also supports the cancer treatment of children from underprivileged backgrounds through our empanelled hospitals pan India.
The YouWeCan Cancer Treatment Fund for Paediatric Patients provides financial assistance for the treatment of eligible cancer patients, to a maximum limit of Rs. 3,00,000.00 (rupees three lakhs) per patient. It is given to patients belonging to underprivileged backgrounds, who are below 16 years of age.
How has YouWeCan influenced lives of people so far
| Initiatives taken | No. of people |
| People screened for different type of cancer | 1,50,000 |
| Students sensitized in anti-tobacco workshop | 1,25,000 |
| Men counseled for tobacco cessation | 24,000 |
| Women sensitized on breast cancer | 30,000 |
| Cancer survivor students reintegrated to school through scholarship | 150 |
| Number of children provided financial aid for their cancer treatment since 2019 | 30 |
The YouWeCan Scholarship provides financial assistance to cancer survivor children from marginalised backgrounds, to help them get reintegrated into the formal education system after their treatment is complete. Once a student has been enrolled for the program, they are provided a scholarship of upto Rs. 30,000.00 per year, every year till the time they complete their education.
The foundation also runs cancer awareness program to educate people about cancer prevention techniques, the importance of getting screened regularly and the signs & symptoms of cancer.
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