My name is Rishita Simhadri. I am 14 years old and a Grade 9 student at Euro School, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

I have undertaken this campaign to support children who have cancer and come from low-income homes. Many of them are malnourished and this campaign with impact them and their families with a monthly ration basket.

I have undertaken this campaign because this is a critical element in the treatment of these children who go through the difficult journey of fighting cancer. Although there are several people and organizations which sponsor the treatment of financially stressed patients, there are very few that help out with an equally important issue - "THEIR FOOD AND NUTRITION".

Children from low-income homes are often malnourished. Malnourished patients respond poorly to medical interventions such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery, with increased episodes of toxicity, interruptions in hospital admissions, and inability to take timely chemotherapy in full doses leading to a poor response to treatment. Overall, malnutrition increases the rate of abandonment of therapy and doubles the risk of death due to cancer.

The cost to impact a child and their family is only INR 4500. It is lifesaving.