“State opens up drive to cure clubfoot” from the Time of India
“A ray of hope for clubfoot children” from The Hindu.
“AO SEC ORP Course at Beit Cure International Hospital” from the AO Foundation
“Tim Tebow: From NFL Star to Charity Superhero” from About.com
“State initiates free clubfoot treatment at nine hospitals” from the Times of India
“Treatment now within the reach” from the Time of India
“Free Treatment for Clubfoot in the State” from Pune Site
These pictures were taken at a recent CURE Clubfoot Worldwide (CCW) training event in Bengaluru, India.
CURE Clubfoot Worldwide (CCW) has signed a five-year partnership agreement with the government of Maharashtra, one of the largest and most populous states of India. Home to 112 million people, it is estimated that 2,750 children are born with clubfoot here every year. As a result of this formal partnership, the door has been opened for CCW to organize medical training events at hospitals in Maharashtra. In addition, by the end of the year we will be holding three weekly clinics in Mumbai, three in Pune, and six in other districts in the state. The number of weekly clinics we are able to hold will have tripled!
Praise the Lord for His blessing in opening the doors for continued opportunities in India.
Iris Devadason has always loved to paint. Time for art was limited, though, while raising two children and holding down a full time career as a professor of English. Now retired, she has devoted her time to her art. Undisturbed by other distractions, Iris is finding great joy in focusing on her painting. She has also found a cause she can support with her art — CURE Clubfoot Karnataka.
Santosh George had Iris as a professor in school. Now the Regional Manager for Asia of CURE Clubfoot Worldwide, Santosh approached Iris about partnering with CURE Clubfoot to raise both awareness of the many children suffering from the condition as well as funds to help cover their treatment. Iris was glad to be a part of the work CURE was doing. “I learned that these children are neglected and go through a lot of mental agony, as they don’t receive proper medical treatment and attention. So, I decided to do something for them through my paintings,” said Iris.
The artist has found inspiration in the lives of famous artists who suffered from clubfoot, notably the English poet, Lord Byron, and the French painter, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. Iris found even greater inspiration in the stories of clubfoot children who have been treated by CURE — children who have gone from anguish to healing. She has produced a collection of works that reflect that story. Capturing both disappointment and hope, sorrow and joy, the paintings of Iris help the observer understand the tortured existence of clubfoot children before treatment, as well as their incredible experience of finding healing.
Iris has titled her exhibit “Walk in Beauty,” and it first went on display in December of 2010. A second showing took place in April of this year. Money raised by the sale of the paintings goes to treatment and care of children through CURE Clubfoot Karnataka.
Iris’ work has already begun to have an impact. The opening of one of her exhibitions drew the attention of the State Commissioner for Disability, K.V. Rajanna, who praised both Iris and CURE for taking the initiative to treat children with clubfoot. Her exhibits have also been supported by the state government and the Rotary club.
Learn more about Iris Devadason’s works at http://iris-devadason.fineartamerica.com/.
In case our previous post about Marco Mills didn’t inspire you, here’s another one. This source of inspiration comes from India, and her name is Dr. Iris Devadason. She’s using her talent for art to help children with clubfoot in India being treated by CURE Clubfoot Worldwide. Read more about it here and here.
I think I’m going to go watch Chariots of Fire or Gandhi or something.
Everyone have a blessed weekend.
Last week, a memorandum of understanding was signed between CURE Clubfoot Worldwide and Karnataka, India state government to open more clubfoot clinics throughout the state! Join us in celebrating the many young lives that will be changed through treatment as a result! Read the full story in The Hindu here.
Varun Prasath is a ninth-grade student at Radnor High School in Wayne, Penn.
Last year, his younger sister was in preschool at Heritage School at Church of the Saviour in Wayne, Penn. The preschool had a special program to support CURE Clubfoot Worldwide. Each child brought extra change from home to help cure a child with clubfoot in the developing world.
CCW Executive Director Andrew Mayo accepts a check from Varun Prasath.
Through this program, Varun learned about CCW. Since his parents are both originally from Chennai, India, he especially became interested in the CURE Clubfoot Worldwide initiative in India. He decided to take on his own fundraising project with students and family.
Just a couple of days ago, Varun presented CCW Executive Director Andrew Mayo with a check for $1,000, which is enough to sponsor clubfoot treatment for four children in India. A great job and thank you to Varun!
Remember, if you have your own CURE fundraiser, we’d love to hear about it. Send me an email.
We recently caught up with Santhosh George, CURE Clubfoot India’s Regional Director. Santhosh shared about how clubfoot is viewed in India and the progress the program is making.
Santhosh George talks about CURE Clubfoot India Dehli Program from CURE Video on Vimeo.
It was only a year ago that CURE Clubfoot Worldwide opened its doors in Delhi, India and it hasn’t looked back since! In only a year, CCW Delhi has straightened over 800 children’s feet!
CCW India is part of a network of CCW programs around the globe fighting to eradicate clubfoot as a life long disability. Two hundred thousand children will be born every year with clubfoot, and 50,000 of those children are from India. In Delhi, CCW manages clinics at six different hospitals, helping to reach the 1,000 children that were treated this past year.
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