equity – Rise To Survive Cancer

We are proud to announce the official launch of the Kusum Memorial Cancer Foundation – a registered public charitable trust in India dedicated to transforming the cancer care landscape for patients, caregivers, and communities across the country.

stablished in memory of our Kusum Malik Tomar – India’s longest survivor of Stage IV lung cancer of her time, participant of number of clinical trials & research medicines, a patient advocate and co-founder of ALK Positive India, whose courage and resilience continue to inspire our commitment to dignity, hope, and scientific progress for cancer patients and caregivers. This Foundation represents a powerful vision for equitable, compassionate, and research-led cancer care and stronger patient voices in healthcare and policy.

A Mission Rooted in Impact

The Kusum Memorial Cancer Foundation has been established with a clear focus:
to empower cancer patients – especially those affected by lung cancer – with access to the latest treatments, evidence-based information, strong community support, and meaningful engagement in clinical research and policy.

This trust serves as the legal and governance umbrella for initiatives that have long been part of our community’s work and ethos, including:

Rise To Survive Cancer – our flagship patient advocacy platform
ALK Positive India – India’s first oncogene-focused support group for ALK+ NSCLC patients, established in year 2017
The White Ribbon Project – India – a movement to break stigma and drive lung cancer awareness and action, established in year 2025

Vision & Core Focus

At its heart, the Foundation is committed to a future where every cancer patient – regardless of cancer type, genetic profile, or socioeconomic background – has equitable access to cutting-edge treatment, compassionate care, and empowering support systems.

For the Foundation, advocacy is not just a cause — it’s a commitment to elevating patient voices, strengthening clinical research awareness, and influencing policy for long-term systemic change.

Governance & Commitment to Ethics

The Kusum Memorial Cancer Foundation is registered in India as a non-profit, non-commercial charitable trust. All activities are carried out without profit motive, and benefits are open to everyone irrespective of caste, religion, gender, race, or socioeconomic status.

This governance foundation ensures that patient welfare, transparency, and ethical practice remain central to every initiative.

Together, we can ensure that no one has to face cancer alone.

Read more about the Foundation’s vision, details and initiatives:
🔗 Visit the Foundation page on Kusum Memorial Cancer Foundation

In West Africa, a region of 16 countries has only one PET scan machine. Forget about treatment—the struggle begins with basic diagnostic tests. Meanwhile, in another part of the world, India’s capital region, Delhi NCR, has around 20 PET scan machines, and in the US and EU, dedicated PET scans exist solely for animals. This stark contrast underscores the urgent need for equitable healthcare access..

After doing workshop for Lung Cancer Patient Advocacy in Asia (HongKong), it was privilege to do Patient Advocacy workshop in Africa along with global patient advocacy leaders at first-ever IASLC PAN Africa Lung Cancer Conference in Ghana.

Though resources in Africa are limited, the passion and determination are immense.

Recognizing Champions of Change

Huge appreciation for:

Caleb (Nigeria’s first lung cancer patient advocate, a friend, a change maker, and the one whose brainchild this conference is)
Jill Feldman (Founder of EGFR Resisters, 16-year lung cancer survivor, one of the most passionate lung cancer patient advocacy leader, and a dear friend)
Dr. Upal Basu Roy (Executive Director at LUNGevity, the largest lung cancer NGO, a great human being, and a bhai to me)

Their leadership and dedication made this conference and workshop truly impactful.

Moments That Moved Me

After my talk, three moments made me realize: Good Deeds Go Far!

Dr. Nini (Oncologist, Nigeria): “Your advocacy helped not just Indian patients but also Africans accessing ALK lung cancer care.”
A Ugandan medical student: “I’ve followed your work for years—it inspired me to enter & better serve patients.”
An African patient advocate: “If he can do it in India, why can’t we in Africa?”

A Call to Action

I remain committed to improving healthcare—not just for Indian cancer patients but for all of LMICs & global healthcare. I urge every stakeholder to join this mission.

Let’s continue to #SparkAChange and take this movement forward. And until we achieve this, remember what my Kusum used to say – Losing Is Not An Option!