A concert for the little ones at Apeksha Hospital
One does not need to be given a diagnosis of cancer to know how terrible such news is. Quite apart from the hair loss, chemotherapy, constant doctors’ appointments and other activities which would inevitably follow the diagnosis; there is the high cost of treatment. What happens when you simply cannot afford the cost of medical care? What if someone who cannot afford such care is only just a child?
With precisely such dilemmas in mind, music specialist Dushyantha Dias Abeyegunawardene has held many concerts to aid cancer patients. Having lost his brother Prasantha Nimal Dias Abeyegunawardene to cancer in 2005, Dushyantha promised Prasantha’s daughter Sulakshana that he would raise money for cancer. Organizing concerts which initially raised Rs. 100,000, in the past few years he has consistently raised Rs. 125,000 for this cause. This year he hopes to raise more funds to help the paediatric ward of Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama (Cancer Hospital). All proceeds from the show will be donated to the hospital in the form of medical equipment which will be handed over to Dr. Thushari Hapuarachchi at the end of the concert.
The concert titled ‘Memories and Melodies’ will be held on Saturday, October 6 at Nuga Sevana, BMICH from 7 p.m. onwards and is proudly presented by Symphony (Pvt.) Ltd. It will feature Sohan & the X-periments with Trishell, guest starring Sureshini and Judy and the music will be from the vintage of Jim Reeves, Cliff Richards, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Clarence Wijewardena, Anil Bharathi, Indrani Perera etc. as well as baila music. There will also be several competitions such as the baila competition, best singing table etc. which will be awarded prizes.
Dushyantha has already ordered 10 implantable venous catheters (Titan ports) to be handed over at the concert. An implantable venous catheter is a tube which is inserted via minor surgery under the skin of a patient in order to administer medicine etc over a long period of time. It is these ports, along with more equipment he is hoping to fund with very successful ticket sales that he will be handing over at the end of the concert. “If more come, we can raise more money,” says Dushyantha.
Being in the music business for 35 years, Dushyantha is confident that he has organized a concert which will make many people happy.
Tickets are priced at Rs. 2500 and include a buffet dinner and a songbook, while corkage is free. For tickets and other information, please contact Dushyantha on 0777789226 or call 0772587928 / 0112585172 / 0114967928. Tickets are available at 438/2, Havelock Road, Colombo 6.