World No Tobacco Day 2009 - Tobacco Health Warnings

It is once again May 31st, otherwise (hopefully) better known as World No Tobacco Day.
This years theme as spelt out by the WHO is Tobacco Health Warnings. In a move earlier publicised,the Health ministry has also issued notifications to the effect of all tobacco products being required to have pictoral warnings on all packaging over and above the existing written warnings.

This year at Canstop we have made the following attemps to mark and observe World No Tobacco Day:

Oral Screening Camps

Can-Stop with the support of Sundaram Medical Foundation and in co-ordination with Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation will conduct Oral cancer Screening camps on 23 and 30th of May and 6th of June at Various Bus terminals in Chennai,specifically targeting bus conuctors and drivers. The team will comprise dentists, social workers and volunteers.

All those attending the camp will be asked a rigorous tobacco related history and will be guided accordingly. Any dental problems identified at the time will be treated to the extent possible. Any patients requiring biopsy or follow up treatment will be counselled on how to go about doing so. Emphasis will be placed on creating a deeper understanding of the links between cancer and tobacco related addictions.

This will also be achieved by the display of posters, banners and the distribution of pamphlets and brochures to the general public during the conduct of the camp.

City Wide Sticker and Bus Display Campaign

Stickers espousing anti-tobacco slogans will be distributed to motorists, buses, and autos around the city. On 31st May (World No Tobacco day WNTD). Information on Tobacco cessation counseling is will be provided and can be availed of free of cost at Can-Stop, Sundaram Medical Foundation Hospital.

Information about the ill effects of tobacco and right of clean air will be put on few city buses for a period of one month. Buses travel extensively throughout the city and provide great visibility to the message. In previous years we’ve received many calls from people with regards to tobacco cessation after seeing our bus back posters.

Short Film on Smoking – Sharad Haksar

Can Stop will also be displaying a short film produced by internationally renowned and award winning ad film maker, Sharad Haksar. This 45 second clip will be screened in the prominent movie theatre complex, Sathyam Cinemas. The display of the short film in theatres will provide the anti tobacco message immense reach.

In Ergo

In the NXG

And todays lead article in The Hindu Magazine.

Stree Spandan Roundup

Hello everyone..so here's a small round up of the post event coverage that we recieved after our 10th anniversary fundraiser - 'Stree Spandan'.

Excerpt from article that appeared in The New Indian Express -

The three dancers will perfectly blend the three classical styles of dance, giving a performance that will linger in minds.
“This is the first time I am performing with other dance exponents,” says Gopika Varma, a master in Mohiniyattam and Abhinaya.
....Can-Stop is an outreach programme of Sundaram Medical Foundation, a voluntary organisation working for Cancer awareness. The proceeds of the event will go to the ‘Drug Bank’ to purchase and distribute free medicines to children on a daily basis. Can-Stop has completed 10 years of service to patients of lower socio-economic background. It organises free screening camps for the lower strata of society on a regular basis, since they are on a mission to detect cancer early, which is then curable in most cases.

Full text here.

Excerpts from the Dance Review that appeared in The Hindu's Friday Review

Can-Stop, an outreach programme of the Sundaram Medical Foundation-Dr.Rangarajan Memorial Hospital, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with ‘Stree Spandan,’ a fund raising programme by well-known dancers Shovana Narayan, Gopika Varm a and Sharon Lowen.

Stree Spandan’ was a tale of three strong women from the Mahabharata — Kunti, Draupadi and Gandhari — whose compelling stories never fail to provide a dramatic high on stage. The dancers representing the classical styles of Kathak, Mohiniattom and Odissi, knew this well. Their solos were based on contemporary texts that threw new light on the characters and their emotional upheavals. S. Janaki’s spirited oratory complimented the dance in this regard.

Full text here.


and in other news : Our partnership with Zara's (The Tapas Bar) to help make the use of the smoking lounge at their premises a more informative sojourn :)

In the smoking lounge, visitors get to look at photos shot by Sharad Haksar and Sunder. Can-Stop, which has completed 10 years of service, is instrumental in getting these photos, which carry anti-smoking messages.

Photos by Sunder show an athletic middle-aged dancer springing above tobacco fumes. A picture of health and happiness, this dancer symbolises the benefits of quitting tobacco.

With cigarette butts, Sharad Haskar shows statistics that prove how much more deadly smoking is than other unnatural causes of death.

While unveiling the ‘photo campaign’, former cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth admitted that he is a smoker. So, he was the right person to talk about its evils.

“It is difficult to get rid of smoking. It started as fun in college, but stayed. I was off tobacco for seven years but relapsed. I badly want to quit smoking.”

Full text.

Stree Spandan in the news

From the pages of The Hindu's Metro Plus :

Dance for a cause

Can-Stop’s fund-raiser, “Stree Spandan”, features well-known classical dancers

Can-Stop presents a classical dance recital titled “Stree Spandan” by well-known artists Gopika Varma, Sharon Lowen and Shovana Narayan at Narada Gana Sabha on March 28, 6 p.m.

The performance will be a blend of classical styles — Mohiniyattam, Odissi and Kathak The proceeds will go towards Can-Stop’s ‘Drug Bank’ for the purchase of medicines for the on-going treatment of children.

Can-Stop is currently into its 10th year of service to patients from the lower socio-economic strata and endeavours to continue to provide improved services to the public as well as cancer patients and their families.

Donor passes, priced at Rs.1,000, Rs. 700, Rs. 500, Rs.300 and Rs. 100 for balcony seating, are available. Contact Can-Stop for donor passes and further information at 26284256.

Can-Stop is a voluntary organisation involved with promoting cancer awareness, early detection through screening camps and counselling for patients and families. It is an outreach programme of Sundaram Medical Foundation.

Article from Alpha Times

The listing from Explocity.com

T-minus just a couple of hours :)

Canstop Presents - "Stree Spandan" March 28th @ 6pm Narada Gana Sabha

Greetings All :)

On the occasion of our 10th anniversary year, Can-Stop presents “Stree Spandan” a classical dance performance featuring renowned artists Smt.Shovana Narayan, Smt.Sharon Lowen and Smt. Gopika Varma.
On stage together for the first time in Chennai, the performance will be a graceful synthesis of Mohiniattam, Kathak and Odissi.


The proceeds of the show will go into the Corpus Fund for our “Drug Bank” – meant for the purchase of the drugs which for the continued treatment of children afflicted with cancer.

Date: 28th March
Time: 6 pm onwards
Venue: Narada Gana Sabha

Donor Passes are available at Rs.1000, 700,500,300 and Rs.100 for the balcony. Please contact us at 2628-4256 for donor passes or more information.

Working together for a common cause CAN make a difference. We hope you can make it for the performance and help support the Drug Bank and the kids who rely on it.

Change in Programme

Dear Everyone,

We regret to inform you that our programme for February 8th ('One walk - One hope') has been changed due to unavoidable circumstances. As schools and colleges will remain closed up until the 9th, we have not been able to contact the authorities concerned with regards to their participation in the walk.

Hence, in conjunction with the TTDC we have decided to set up stalls at the Tourism and Trade Fair (currently underway at the Island Grounds) in order to spread awareness and mark National Cancer Awareness Day.

The installation at the stall will also have representations from other cancer support groups in the city and will offer information on various types of cancer and their treatment, as well as information for cancer patients,survivors and their families encompassing counseling, physical therapy, alternative therapies and dietary advice.

On display will also be a photo exhibit on the ills of smoking and advice on tobacco cessation. Pamphlets will be handed out by Canstop volunteers to the general public covering all the aspects listed above.

The TTDC expects approximately 35,00 people to attend the trade fair over the course of the day and we look forward to being able to reach a large number of people on the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day

We hope you find it convenient to attend the Tourism and Trade Fair and can visit Canstop's stall at the fair.For any further enquiries please contact us on 2628-4256 (helpline) or on 98410-61578.

Venue: Island Grounds, Anna Salai
Time: 5:30 to 9:00 pm
Date: 8th February 2009


Click here to see the coverage of Camp He Ho Ha.

One Walk One Hope!

Can-Stop is organizing National Cancer Awareness Day.

“CAN – STOP” is a cancer support group & community based NGO. We believe in providing timely detection and greater awareness of cancer and supporting all those touched by the disease.

“CAN-STOP” is committed to making measurable improvements in the quality of life – physical, psychological, social and spiritual for all cancer survivors, from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.

Can-Stop brings together survivors, supporters, members of the community and all NGO’s working in Cancer Care together for

“National Cancer Awareness Day”

on : 8th February 2009
at : “Rajarathnam Stadium
time : 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm.


Alongside the walk we have organized a fun-fair mela which will include the following attractions:

Information kiosks on various cancers
Counseling booth
Live folk art performances
Live music
Fun games – face painting, balloon decoration, portrait painting


If your company/organization/school/college would like to be a part of “ One Walk One Hope ” by walking in the event as a team and there by helping to create greater awareness ; please contact us at 044-2628-4256.

"Kick The Butt" - Short Film by Sharad Haksar

As part of our World No Tobacco Day campaign for 2008,renowned photographer Sharad Haksar prepared this visual short to accompany our Photo Exhibition. For those of you in Chennai catch it at Sathyam Cinema's shortly as well as at other theatre venues.

The pictures speak for themselves.