L V Prasad Eye Institute’s Flagship WHITATHON Run (Seventh Edition) : To Raise Awareness And Funds For Retinoblastoma Treatment, Held.

Spread the love

Hyderabad, Telangana, 18th of May 2025 : L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) organized the seventh edition of ‘WHITATHON’ walk on May 18, to raise awareness about the early detection of Retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in children and funds for its treatment. The event commemorates the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, observed between May 11-17, this year. The 10 K run was flagged off by Mr Y Nagi Reddy, IPS, Director General – Disaster Response and Fire Services, Telangana State, at T-works, Raidurgam in the presence of Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman – LVPEI and Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director of Apollo Cancer Hospital.

(L-R) Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI); Chief Guest Mr Y Nagi Reddy, IPS, Director General – Disaster Response and Fire Services, Telangana State; Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital & Dr Swathi Kaliki, Head – Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, LVPEI; flagging off the 7th Edition of the WHITATHON 2025 RUN organized to raise awareness & funds for children with eye cancer, by L V Prasad Eye Institute, today at T Works, Raidurgam.

Dr Swathi Kaliki, Ocular Oncologist, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, , LVPEI, Hyderabad spoke on the need to create awareness of the symptoms of retinoblastoma among the public and elaborated, “It is important that we educate the public, especially young parents about the symptoms of retinoblastoma. Everyone should know that once they notice a white reflex in a child’s eye, they should immediately get it examined by an eye specialist. Early detection and treatment can save the child’s life, eye, and vision.”

Mr Nagi Reddy urged everyone present to spread awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma. He said, “If each of us share the awareness we picked up from being a part of Whitathon with the people in our circle of influence, we would make a big difference to ensure cases are detected early and treated enabling us to save vision and life.” He said, parents need to make a small effort to detect Retinoblastoma in children. We take photographs, while doing so ensure you take it with flash, if there is a white reflex in the eye, it can be suspected to be Retinoblastoma and can be got treated.

Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chair, L V Prasad Eye Institute; said, every child must be protected by saving the eye and life from Retinoblastoma. This disease if picked up early and treated, can help save the eye and life. No child in our city, state, or country should die because of this tumor.

Participants warming up at the 7th Edition of the ‘WHITATHON 2025 RUN’ – organized to raise awareness & funds for children with eye cancer, by L V Prasad Eye Institute, today at T – Works, Raidurgam.

Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital; said, the dearest one in our family is our little one and it is essential for us to be aware that these innocent kids can have a deadly disease called retinoblastoma. The large gathering here today morning are the ambassadors for this cause, you can create some kind of awareness among people around you and the society, that these tumors can develop in these tiny tots and they can be treated, cured and their eyes and lives can be saved.

The 5k run was flagged off by our diamond sponsors DSR SR Prime Spaces LLP and Alcon Laboratories (India) Pvt Ltd and 3K run by our gold and silver sponsors National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd and IDBI Ltd.

The funds raised from the Whitathon run are utilized to treat underprivileged children suffering from Retinoblastoma at no cost, and to support future research. This year, over 1500 enthusiastic participants joined the cause, demonstrating strong community support for the event.

Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that primarily affects children under three years of age.

Participants with their kids at the 7th Edition of the ‘WHITATHON 2025 RUN’ – organized to raise awareness & funds for children with eye cancer, by L V Prasad Eye Institute, today at T – Works, Raidurgam.

What causes Retinoblastoma?

Loss of “RB1 gene” – a tumor suppressor gene whose function is to stop cells from turning cancerous.

Symptoms & Signs of Retinoblastoma

Consult a trained ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in children:

· Leukocoria or “White reflex” (clearly visible in photographs clicked with a flash)

· Squint

· Red Eyes

· Swollen Eyelids

· Enlarged Eyes

The treatment usually involves multiple procedures and surgeries, with close monitoring over several months. From the funds raised through the whitathon, LVPEI has till date offered over 3000 treatments free of cost.

Annually, the institute treats 150 to 200 new cases of Retinoblastoma. It was possible to save the life of a child in 90% of the cases treated at LVPEI. However, we could save vision in only 45% of these cases. 55% lost their vision because of late presentation.

Early detection and treatment ensure better outcomes for the children.

Winners in the Men’s 21K Run category Md Younus – Winner ; Sridhar – 1st Runner Up & Ramu Chhetri – 2nd Runner Up; at the 7th Edition of the ‘WHITATHON 2025 RUN’ – organized to raise awareness & funds for children with eye cancer, by L V Prasad Eye Institute, today at T – Works, Raidurgam.

About Whitathon: Whitathon is LVPEI’s annual cause-related running event aimed at raising awareness and funds for the early diagnosis and treatment of life and vision-threatening Retinoblastoma in children. The event highlights the importance of early detection, as the cancer is curable if treated promptly. The signature symptom of Retinoblastoma is a white reflex in the child’s eye, which requires immediate medical attention. White reflex is a white or yellowish-white glow that appears in the pupil (the black part) of a child’s eye when light is shined on it, especially in photos taken with a flash. Other symptoms include poor vision, redness of the eyes and squint eyes.

Support and Participation: The success of Whitathon is attributed to the overwhelming participation and support from the community, sponsors, and volunteers.

Diamond sponsors: DSR SR Prime Spaces LLP & Alcon Inc.

Gold sponsors: National Mineral Development Corporation

Silver sponsors: GTN Engineering India Limited, Gebauer Medizintechnik GMBH & IDBI Bank Ltd.

Bronze sponsors: Biomedix Optotechnik & Devices Pvt. Ltd., Mrs. Tiana & Mr. Vikram Chellaram, The Vasavi Group, Roche Products (India) Pvt. Ltd., Premier Energies Limited & Rotary Lake District Moinabad

Supporters: Cure Foundation, Aswini Homeo & Ayurvedic Products Pvt. Ltd., O P Tibrewala Foundation, Asian Surgical Company & Smt. Aruna & Sri. Bhanumurti Kuchibhotla

Partners: Operation Eyesight Universal (Supporter of LVPEI’s Institute for Eye Cancer), Hyderabad Runners (Run Partner), Synchrony (Volunteer Partner), Big FM (Radio Partner), EMRI Green Health Services (Medical Partner) & BodyArmor Lyte (Energy Drink Partner)

About LVPEI: Established in 1987, with the vision,” to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,” the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), a comprehensive eye health institute, is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness.

The LVPEI’s five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ model, covering all areas of the community right from the villages to the city, provides high quality and comprehensive preventive, curative, and rehabilitative eye care to all. The LVPEI Eye Care Network has 310+ centres across the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka. It has till date offered over 24 million centre-based services (2 crores 40 lakh services), with more than 50% entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed.

For more information, please visit the Institute’s website at www.lvpei.org.

Contact: L V Prasad Eye Institute Phone: +91 40 6810 2272 Email: aneetha.kanukolanu@lvpei.org Website: www.lvpei.org

21K Winners

Bib Name Gender Event Nettime Grosstime

2177 Md Younus Male 21K 1:33:25 1:33:27

2127 Sridhar Nujella Male 21K 1:42:57 1:43:00

2094 Ramu Chhetri Male 21K 1:43:56 1:44:14

Bib Name Gender Event Nettime Grosstime

2062 Sonali Reddy Female 21K 2:10:54 2:20:55

2087 Srinayana Goswami Female 21K 2:19:31 2:19:44

2053 Malaika Agrawal Female 21K 2:26:09 2:26:12

10K Winners