Tag: researchsaveslives

Taking Lung Cancer Awareness to the Top of the World

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Yesterday, on World Lung Cancer Day, as I travelled back home – after my motorcycle expedition across the Himalayas to the 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝, I carried the White Ribbon, to raise Lung Cancer Awareness.

The journey took me through
~ Crossing 8 high mountain passes (3 of the World’s Top 10 Highest Motorable Passes),
~ 6 majestic Himalayan Lakes (including the Highest brackish water high-altitude lakes on earth),
~ High Altitiude Mountain Sickness – Struggle for Oxygen, Breathing – Headache, Vomitting
~ Crossed countless Water Streams and Rivers,
~ Sand Dunes,
~ the Cold Desert,
~ and ever-changing mountain Weather – from Rain and Hailstorms to Scorching Sunshine, Strong Winds, Snow

But this journey wasn’t about reaching a destination with Guinness World Record

It was about carrying a message.

Behind these photographs were 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬 of riding, resilience, and purpose.

For me, this mission is deeply personal.

Having lost my beloved wife, Kusum Malik Tomar, to Stage IV lung cancer, I know firsthand how devastating this disease can be.

In memory of my Kusum, I have dedicate myself to lung cancer awareness and patient advocacy, so that fewer families have to endure what ours did.

Every conversation about lung cancer matters.

Every opportunity to encourage earlier diagnosis matters.

Every effort to improve access to treatment, research, and patient support matters.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 🎗️

#lungcancerawareness #losingisnotanoption🚫 #risetosurvivecancer #rideforacause❤️ #airpollution #patientadvocacy #everybreathmatters🫁 #ResearchSavesLives

Announcing the “Kusum Memorial Cancer Foundation”: A New Chapter in Patient Advocacy & Research

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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