Christmas Party at ‘Shanthi Nivasa’

The volunteer befrienders of Mithuruwela, organized a Christmas Party for the patients and caregivers at the Shanthi Nivasa Transit Home on 30th December 2010. It was a fun-filled evening with a lot of music, song, dance and refreshments. Ten teenagers, who are members of the 7th Day Adventist School Band, travelled all the way from Kandana, along with their Band Master and Trainer, to entertain the patients and caregivers at the Transit Home. It was inspiring to see the patients and caregivers spontaneously responding to the beat of the ‘baila’. They were joined by Mrs Leilani Schaffer and our very own May Fernando, who worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to make this party a success.
Mr and Mrs Chandra Schaffter graced the occasion along with their grandchildren.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of Mithuruwela – the Cancer Support Network, was held on Saturday 17th July 2010 at 49A, Peterson Lane, Colombo 6.
The Chief Guest, Dr A S Anushyanthan of the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama and the twenty six volunteers present was warmly welcomed by the Chairperson, Mr S Thalayasingam.

The Chairperson updated the membership about the achievements and events of Mithuruwela for the period 2008/2009.

Publications
• Approximately 45,000 leaflets/brochures on cancer related topics were printed for the National Cancer Institute with the assistance of sponsors.

Training Programs
• A Counseling Training program was conducted by Mrs Dillee Jayakody.
• A volunteer from Mithuruwela was selected to participate in a counseling training program conducted for Doctors and Nurses at the NCI by Trainers from Counseling Care Center, Singapore.

Awareness Programs
• An Awareness Program was conducted at Methodist College, Colombo 3 by Prof Ryhana Raheem, Ms Manikya Kodituwakku and Ms Mala Thalayasingam. The children donated a sum of Rs 23,777 towards the Medical Fund.

Donations
• Medical Aids and medication was donated to the patients at NCI by Mithuruwela
• Donors were gratefully acknowledged.

New Member joins Management Circle
• Mrs Surangani Ratwatte was nominated to the Management Circle.

Accounts
• The Accounts for the period 2008 / 2009 was presented by Mr Lal Kathirgamatamby.

Befriending Activities
• Jameela Uduman apprised the audience on the befriending activities for the period under review.
• Case Studies were presented by Mrs Lalitha Heart Guneratne and Mrs Monica Benjamin.

Our Chief Guest, Dr A S Anushyanthan’s address to the membership was inspiring and thought provoking.

The vote of thanks was given by Prof Ryhana Raheem.