Varun is a Bangalore based technopreneur. Varun Arya along with a group of his friends & associates took on a project ‘Flow of Life’ to create a support structure to save the lives of children fighting this disease called thalassemia.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disease that causes anemia. Children with thalassemia do not produce enough hemoglobin. Shortage of hemoglobin deprives the body’s tissues of oxygen. There is no cure for thalassemia and the best treatment available today consists of frequent blood transfusions (every two to three weeks), which keep hemoglobin near normal levels. Treating a child suffering from thalassemia is financially beyond the reach of most parents who have children suffering from this disease. Moreover, the disease takes a heavy psychological burden on the family. Such children due to inadequate support do not live beyond the age of 22 to 24 yrs.
The group has tied up with Rotary TTK blood bank which has been repeatedly conducting blood donation camps all over Karnataka. The blood bank is being visited by over fifty thalassemia affected children for blood transfusion and iron chelating process. Very recently the blood bank has started providing free blood transfusion to these children. The blood bank needs support in continuing this cause. As a part of this project, the group is organizing blood donation camps and fund-raising activities. A blood donation camp at Accenture is scheduled for early November.
How can one help:
• Organize blood donation camps in your Company/College.
• Raise funds to help in procuring the injections for Iron Chelating process – one injection costs Rs. 1,500/- onwards.
• Support these children in their education.
• Organize for Genetic counseling to such parents who have a thalassemia affected child and want to conceive another baby.
The Flow of Life is an initiative by Varun Arya, a technopreneur by profession. He got inspired to take up this project out of his participation in ‘Self Expression and Leadership Program’ which is conducted by Landmark Education. Those interested in making a difference in the lives of others can contact:
varun.arya@gmail.com
