<p>Living the life of a musician, singer, quiz master, performer and emcee — all this seems so glamorous. Little does one know of the struggles that the person has gone through to get where they are. <br /><br /></p>.<p> Mark Rego’s story is one such inspiring tale. He was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago. “I did not know how to react because my kids were small and I thought it was not a big deal. But then the doctors said it was too late. It was the final stage of cancer and I was told that I would live for only 5 more months,” he recollects.<br /><br />He says his wife and mother were by his side throughout. His mother is a cancer survivor too which helped him push through. <br /><br />When Mark learned that he was suffering from cancer, he did not give up. He claims that 50% or more of battling and winning cancer is in the mind. His perspective towards life has changed completely since this journey. <br /><br />“I was very carefree and did not bother much about anything. But after this, I changed my thinking and doing a lot more meaningful things. I do what other people are usually scared of because you never know when you will die,” he says.<br /><br />He cites an interesting example. When he shifted to his new house, there was a big dump yard filled with rubbish. He used to watch kids playing football and cricket in small space available. <br /><br />Being a sportsman himself, it pained him to see these kids struggle. <br />So one day, he went up to them and asked them if they would help him. <br />Soon, 47 truck loads of garbage were removed from the yard. When people saw them clear out the garbage, they pitched in as well. <br /><br />Now, the yard is a clean, open space that used by the elderly for laughing clubs <br />and walks, mothers with prams and children who love to play. <br />Mark states that things like this bring him joy. <br /><br />He says, “You need to start a movement. 99% of Indians blame the government and politicians, but you need to stand up and say ‘let us be the change’.” <br /><br />Mark also works with orphanages and helps people in need. He talks about how he gets irritated when people ask him how he finds the time for all this. <br /><br />“Take the first step, be the change and the rest will follow. There is no such thing as no time — you have to make time for things you enjoy.” <br /><br />He admits that not many people knew that he was fighting cancer, except his mother, wife and kids. <br /><br />He hid it from society and the world as he believed it was his own battle. He opened up about it during the latter part of it, when he was recovering.<br /><br />“My biggest worry was losing my hair after the chemotherapy. I used to love my hairstyle. I was one of the earliest ones in the city to go blonde and had a funny hair cut. When I used to walk down Brigade Road, everyone turned, laughed and whispered to each <br />other.” <br /><br />His self esteem did take a beating. Mark became less confident in himself. <br />He worried a lot and was always in a state of ‘should I or should not’? <br />“It is all in my head now — I do what I want to do. I am always laughing, singing and joking. The only change I made was deciding to stay happy.” <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Living the life of a musician, singer, quiz master, performer and emcee — all this seems so glamorous. Little does one know of the struggles that the person has gone through to get where they are. <br /><br /></p>.<p> Mark Rego’s story is one such inspiring tale. He was diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago. “I did not know how to react because my kids were small and I thought it was not a big deal. But then the doctors said it was too late. It was the final stage of cancer and I was told that I would live for only 5 more months,” he recollects.<br /><br />He says his wife and mother were by his side throughout. His mother is a cancer survivor too which helped him push through. <br /><br />When Mark learned that he was suffering from cancer, he did not give up. He claims that 50% or more of battling and winning cancer is in the mind. His perspective towards life has changed completely since this journey. <br /><br />“I was very carefree and did not bother much about anything. But after this, I changed my thinking and doing a lot more meaningful things. I do what other people are usually scared of because you never know when you will die,” he says.<br /><br />He cites an interesting example. When he shifted to his new house, there was a big dump yard filled with rubbish. He used to watch kids playing football and cricket in small space available. <br /><br />Being a sportsman himself, it pained him to see these kids struggle. <br />So one day, he went up to them and asked them if they would help him. <br />Soon, 47 truck loads of garbage were removed from the yard. When people saw them clear out the garbage, they pitched in as well. <br /><br />Now, the yard is a clean, open space that used by the elderly for laughing clubs <br />and walks, mothers with prams and children who love to play. <br />Mark states that things like this bring him joy. <br /><br />He says, “You need to start a movement. 99% of Indians blame the government and politicians, but you need to stand up and say ‘let us be the change’.” <br /><br />Mark also works with orphanages and helps people in need. He talks about how he gets irritated when people ask him how he finds the time for all this. <br /><br />“Take the first step, be the change and the rest will follow. There is no such thing as no time — you have to make time for things you enjoy.” <br /><br />He admits that not many people knew that he was fighting cancer, except his mother, wife and kids. <br /><br />He hid it from society and the world as he believed it was his own battle. He opened up about it during the latter part of it, when he was recovering.<br /><br />“My biggest worry was losing my hair after the chemotherapy. I used to love my hairstyle. I was one of the earliest ones in the city to go blonde and had a funny hair cut. When I used to walk down Brigade Road, everyone turned, laughed and whispered to each <br />other.” <br /><br />His self esteem did take a beating. Mark became less confident in himself. <br />He worried a lot and was always in a state of ‘should I or should not’? <br />“It is all in my head now — I do what I want to do. I am always laughing, singing and joking. The only change I made was deciding to stay happy.” <br /><br /><br /></p>
