Mumbai, June 15, 2026: The Indian Cancer Society (ICS), India’s first voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to cancer control, proudly celebrated the 17th anniversary of UGAM, its flagship childhood cancer survivorship initiative, bringing together over 525 survivors and families, healthcare professionals, supporters and well-wishers from Mumbai
Founded in 2009, UGAM was established with a simple yet powerful belief: surviving cancer is not the end of the journey—it is the beginning of a new chapter filled with possibilities, aspirations, and purpose. Group of survivors from Tata memorial Hospital came together to start this voluntary support group of ICS and has now grown to support survivors across the country. Over the past 17 years, UGAM has evolved into one of India’s most impactful childhood cancer survivorship communities, supporting thousands of young survivors as they navigate life after treatment.
Inspired by UGAM’s journey, the Indian Cancer Society is facilitating 19 ACT Clinics across India with 4,000+ survivors enrolled, supporting survivorship beyond treatment through project Picasso (Partnership in Cancer Survivorship Optimization) as mentioned by Dr Vandana Dhamankar, DDG Medical affairs, Indian Cancer society
This year’s celebration is inspired by the spirit of the Mahabharata, a reflection of courage, strength, friendship, and triumph over life’s battles, the theme was “Sangharsh Se Sahas Tak (means struggle to success) and truly every part of the event captured the true sense of the theme
The anniversary celebrations highlighted the remarkable journeys of childhood cancer survivors who have transformed adversity into achievement, inspiring others through their resilience, determination, and optimism. Through performances, storytelling, recognition ceremonies, and interactive discussions, survivors shared their experiences of rebuilding confidence, pursuing education and careers, and embracing life with renewed purpose.
The event was graced by Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra, as Chief Guest. Special guest was Dr. Kailash Sharma, Dean – Academic Projects, Tata Memorial Centre, and Chief Advisor, Tata Cancer Care Foundation, along with eminent oncologists, psycho-oncologists, donors, trustees, and supporters of the Indian Cancer Society.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Purna A. Kurkure, Convener, UGAM, said: “Every year, thousands of children in India are diagnosed with cancer. While advances in treatment have significantly improved survival rates, the journey beyond treatment requires equal attention. Survivorship is about helping young people live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. UGAM has become a platform where survivors find support, mentorship, friendship, and the confidence to dream big. Their stories remind us that cancer does not define a child’s future.”
During the event, the Indian Cancer Society showcased its growing survivorship initiatives and ongoing efforts to strengthen support systems for childhood cancer survivors nationwide. The annual UGAM newsletter was also released, and survivors were recognized for their achievements in academics, sports, arts, professional careers, and community leadership.
Dance performance- “Manobhoomi” is a powerful dance drama inspired by the Mahabharata, portraying a cancer patient’s battle as a modern-day Kurukshetra, a moving tribute to resilience, hope, and the indomitable human spirit. An interactive session, “Chai with UGAM,” moderated by Dr. Savita Goswami, provided young survivors with a platform to openly discuss their job experiences, aspirations, and challenges, reinforcing the importance of community support and peer engagement. This was an informative session sharing opportunities available for skill training & job placements for cancer survivors.
“UGAM represents hope, courage, and possibility,” added Dr. Kurkure. “Our vision is to ensure that every childhood cancer survivor not only survives but thrives—living a life filled with opportunities, dignity, confidence, and good health.”
Some of the UGAM Victor success stories are given below :
Abdur Rafey : Indian Cancer Society supported the education of WT survivor Abdur Rafey from Std. 12th through the completion of his BBA from Dr. D. Y. Patil University.
He began his professional journey with D.P. Logistics as an Admin Executive while simultaneously pursuing his MBA. Since joining the organization in 2023, he has been promoted twice and currently holds the position of Senior Manager. Abdur Rafey’s journey is truly inspiring, a remarkable example of determination, perseverance, and success. He is a real hero.
Sumit Madhaba Dhir : Sumit Madhaba Dhir, a survivor of metastatic OGS cancer of the left femur from Odisha, has shown extraordinary courage and determination in overcoming life’s toughest challenges. Despite facing severe late effects of treatment, repeated surgeries, and implant failures, he never gave up on his dreams. The Indian Cancer Society (ICS) proudly supported his education for three years during his B.Tech in Computer Science. Through resilience, hard work, and perseverance, Sumit successfully completed his studies and is now working with BNP Paribas as an IT Software Engineer.
His inspiring journey is a true example of strength, hope, and determination, proving that cancer cannot stop a person from achieving success and building a bright future.
About UGAM : Over the years, UGAM has grown into a vibrant survivorship network that provides emotional support, mentorship, education assistance, awareness, advocacy, and opportunities for personal development. Every year, the first Sunday of June is observed globally as Cancer Survivors Day. Today, more than 10,000 childhood cancer survivors are registered and receiving follow-up support through hospital-based ACT Clinics across India, reflecting the growing importance of survivorship care in the cancer continuum.
About Indian Cancer Society: Founded in 1951 by Dr. D. J. Jussawalla and Mr. Naval Tata, the Indian Cancer Society (ICS) is India’s first voluntary, non-profit organization dedicated to cancer control. ICS works across the entire continuum of cancer care—from awareness and early detection to treatment support, rehabilitation, survivorship, research, education, and advocacy.
Over the last five years, ICS awareness initiatives have reached more than 160 million people, screened over 550,000 individuals for cancer, and supported thousands of patients with diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and survivorship services.
