GRACE CANCER CARE ENDOWMENT
GRACE
Archbishop Mar Gregorios Memorial Bethany Cancer Endowment
About GRACE
A charitable endowment called GRACE (Archbishop Mar Gregorios Memorial Bethany Cancer Endowment) was established in the year 2008, to aid underprivileged cancer patients. It is appropriate to honor the benevolent deed of aiding cancer patients in memory of the arch-lover and sympathizer of the downtrodden and poor, Archbishop Mar Gregorios, who suffered and passed away from bone cancer in 1994. The archbishop dedicated his life to advancing the cause of the weak and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Regardless of religion, caste, creed, age, or sex, GRACE offers financial aid for medical care and the rehabilitation of patients and their families. Additionally, it plans to set up palliative care facilities and organize cancer awareness campaigns as well as provide counseling and advice for patients undergoing treatment. Fr. Atmanand OIC, a resident at the Bethany Ashram and an 18-year cancer patient, is the one who initiated the endowment, with the approval and support of the then-provincial governing board.
About Fr. Atmanand OIC
Since 1997, Fr. Atmanand, O.I.C. had been a cancer patient receiving care at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) Trivandrum. He had myeloma, a malignancy of the bone marrow that, in its secondary stage, manifests as tumors in the bones. In 2000, he underwent many extremely challenging surgical surgeries to entirely remove his L-3 vertebra due to a cancerous tumor. He had numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. He was confined to his room, with the aid of a walking stick for about 18 years after being diagnosed with cancer. He survived because of his faith. Up until 1997, he was extremely actively involved in Kerala's least developed districts' missions. When he was later stricken with cancer, he altered his goal to aid the poor cancer patients who were in desperate need of assistance. He was compelled to start this effort as a result of his experience as a cancer patient and his frequent trips to RCC for treatment and other purposes. It involves numerous operations, diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative care, and other expensive and complicated procedures. Patients with little means cannot cover this cost. As a result, they eventually cease receiving therapy and return home with the forlorn determination to suffer and die.
Location and area of activity
The endowment's headquarters is located at the Bethany Navjeevan Provincial Ashram in Nalanchira, Trivandrum, 695 015. The Bethany Navajeevan Province, a Religious and Charitable Trust (registered number 433/IV/SRO/ Edappally / 2000), shall oversee the endowment's operations.
No spatial area limit will be insisted on for giving aid to cancer patients. Any needy patient can approach the endowment for assistance. Deservedness of assistance will be determined on the basis of the set norms of the endowment. But according to the new project, the area is restricted to the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta of Kerala for patients for periodical meetings and house visits.