<p>His resolve is written large on his face. Pankaj Yadav, 18, has made it to the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, overcoming his handicap of losing an eye to cancer 13 years ago. In doing so, this cancer survivor has set an example for hundreds of others like him who have fought off the dreaded disease. </p>.<p>The National Society for Childhood Cancer and Cankids...Kidscan have committed to supporting his family to meet his higher education costs of Rs 4,00,000 over four years and are seeking donors to help him.</p>.<p>“When I lost an eye at the age of five, no one imagined that I would go far in academics,” said Yadav, a resident of Haryana whose father is a constable in the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force. Even when I started my preparations for the IIT entrance exam, not many of my peers believed that I would crack it,” said the survivor of retinoblastoma eye cancer, who sports a plastic left eye.<br /><br />The IIT-entrant was among the 23 cancer patients and survivors who were recently honoured by Cankids in New Delhi with scholarships under the 6th Annual National Childhood Cancer Scholarship Programme 2013. Over 830 child cancer patients and survivors, aged 5 to 21, from 24 cancer hospitals across the country had applied for the scholarships.</p>.<p>Among the awardees was Aman Saxena, who is fighting a nose and throat cancer relapse.The second year BA student from Delhi’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh College won the KCK Cancer Awareness and Social Contribution Award for pioneering work through his Jasba Theatre group.</p>.<p>The programme was hosted in association with Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.<br />“Twenty-three children were given cash awards, citations and trophies in different categories. But every cancer fighter who applied is being given a medal and certificate,” Cankids education officer Tannu Sharma said.</p>.<p>Amita Mahajan, senior consultant (Paediatric Hematology and Oncology), Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and chairman of Cankids Medical Advisory, said: “The programme was a platform to motivate and encourage those children who have fought cancer and emerged as winners,” she added.</p>.<p>Iksha Kumari, a nine-year-old girl undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer at MCS Patna, was also among the scholarship winners. <br /><br />She scored 99 percent in Class 1 even while undergoing treatment. She was awarded the Yoginder Kishen Agnihotri Scholarship for Academic Excellence in the junior category.<br />Leela Agnihotri, who has instituted three of the 16 scholarships in memory of her parents, her husband and her son, said: “Honouring the bravery of the children who have excelled even as they battle cancer is the most fitting tribute to my family, especially my husband who recently died of cancer.”<br /><br /></p>
<p>His resolve is written large on his face. Pankaj Yadav, 18, has made it to the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, overcoming his handicap of losing an eye to cancer 13 years ago. In doing so, this cancer survivor has set an example for hundreds of others like him who have fought off the dreaded disease. </p>.<p>The National Society for Childhood Cancer and Cankids...Kidscan have committed to supporting his family to meet his higher education costs of Rs 4,00,000 over four years and are seeking donors to help him.</p>.<p>“When I lost an eye at the age of five, no one imagined that I would go far in academics,” said Yadav, a resident of Haryana whose father is a constable in the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force. Even when I started my preparations for the IIT entrance exam, not many of my peers believed that I would crack it,” said the survivor of retinoblastoma eye cancer, who sports a plastic left eye.<br /><br />The IIT-entrant was among the 23 cancer patients and survivors who were recently honoured by Cankids in New Delhi with scholarships under the 6th Annual National Childhood Cancer Scholarship Programme 2013. Over 830 child cancer patients and survivors, aged 5 to 21, from 24 cancer hospitals across the country had applied for the scholarships.</p>.<p>Among the awardees was Aman Saxena, who is fighting a nose and throat cancer relapse.The second year BA student from Delhi’s Shaheed Bhagat Singh College won the KCK Cancer Awareness and Social Contribution Award for pioneering work through his Jasba Theatre group.</p>.<p>The programme was hosted in association with Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.<br />“Twenty-three children were given cash awards, citations and trophies in different categories. But every cancer fighter who applied is being given a medal and certificate,” Cankids education officer Tannu Sharma said.</p>.<p>Amita Mahajan, senior consultant (Paediatric Hematology and Oncology), Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and chairman of Cankids Medical Advisory, said: “The programme was a platform to motivate and encourage those children who have fought cancer and emerged as winners,” she added.</p>.<p>Iksha Kumari, a nine-year-old girl undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer at MCS Patna, was also among the scholarship winners. <br /><br />She scored 99 percent in Class 1 even while undergoing treatment. She was awarded the Yoginder Kishen Agnihotri Scholarship for Academic Excellence in the junior category.<br />Leela Agnihotri, who has instituted three of the 16 scholarships in memory of her parents, her husband and her son, said: “Honouring the bravery of the children who have excelled even as they battle cancer is the most fitting tribute to my family, especially my husband who recently died of cancer.”<br /><br /></p>