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The Cancer Aid & Research Foundation (CARF) in association with Airaawat art gallery are hosting “Art for Living” 2011 – A 6 day exhibition cum sale of art starting from March 10 to March 15, 2011 at Coomaraswamy Hall of Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sanghralaya (formerly know as Prince of Wales Museum) Kala Ghoda, Mumbai. The exhibition time is from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm. Art for Living 2011 will showcase works of 72 prominent artists and 15 sculptors from across Maharashtra. The exhibition will have a mix of art forms like oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, water colours, pastel on paper etc., while the sculptors would be in wood, stone and bronze. Paintings of senior artists like Prafulla Dahanukar, Suhas Bahulkar, Padmanabh Bendre, Prithvi Soni and Ram Kasture will be available for sale during the Art for Living week. Giving details about the exhibition Dr. Rehan Kazi, famous Head Neck Cancer Surgeon and Chartered Scientist from Royal Marsden NHS, London and also Secretary General CRAF said that “This is the first time we are holding such an art exhibition at this scale. India has lot of art lovers and we thought that by organizing this event, CARF would be able to raise some funds to treat the poor and needy cancer patients. All the proceeds from the sale will go to CARF as the event is aimed at increasing awareness and support for the foundation which is building a Rs 200 crore super specialty oncology hospital at Ratnagiri in costal Maharasthra.” Mr. Sajid Nadiadwala a noted film producer who is supporting the cause will be chief guest for the Luminary Showcase which will be held on Thursday 10th March at the venue. Various other prominent personalities in their respective fields including Shri, Chagan Bhujbal, cabinet minister for public works Government of Maharashtra, classical singer Padmashri Padmaja Phenani Joglekar, editor and publisher of Upper-Crust magazine Farzana Contractor, actor - producer Sajid Khan, actress Zareen Khan, Narendra Verma, NCP president and a avid art lover have pledged their support to the Art of Living exhibition and will be present along with the trustees of CARF during the Luminary Showcase. The Ratnagiri hospital will provide free diagnosis, hospitalization, medication, counseling etc to the needy. The more financially privileged will be charged. The first phase of this project which includes the diagnostic centre, 6 operation theaters and Radiotherapy unit is expected to be completed by May 2011 and is estimated to cost Rs 25 crores. Phase two which will include a 126 bed cancer hospital is expected to be completed by the middle of 2012 and is expected to cost Rs 50 crores. The foundation is hoping to build a corpus of Rs 125 crores to be used for meeting the day to day expenses of the hospital. About CARF Founded in 2001 the foundations vision is that NO cancer patient should go untreated for lack of financial support or access to medical facilities. The foundations efforts have concentrated on Awareness, Research and Treatment of cancer. Dr. Rehan Kazi, secretary general of CARF, is Honorary Lecturer & Research team leader (R&O) Head & Neck unit, Royal Marsden hospital in London before he decides to come back to India and serve poor, needy cancer patients. The organization has disbursed (between 2001-11) approximately Rs 10 crores in providing monetary help, free medicines for chemotherapy treatment, accommodation to poor outstation patients, educating people on the dangers inherent in prevailing social practices (tobacco, gutka) arranging medical camps for cancer detection, free counseling, spreading awareness via brochures, film screenings etc. Some 4,245 patients have been treated in 556 hospitals all over India.
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