BANCAT and BANCAT Durbar, CVC Finance Limited, and Guardian Life Insurance recently collaborated to organize a “Walkathon 2023” event in observance of World Cancer Day 2023. According to a press release, this year’s theme was “Closing the Cancer Care Gap.”

The walkathon was held on Saturday, February 4, starting from 2 pm at Justice Shahabuddin Park Ahmed Park Gate 2, Road 86 Gulshan. The 5R-Securex Consortium supported this event, while CThreeSixty served as the communication collaboration partner. Other partners of the event include Alok Nibash, Maa Bachao Bachao Desh, City Group, Labaid Cancer Hospital, IFAD Nutri Bite, Polar Ice Cream, Urmi group, and Bakeman’s biscuits.

BANCAT works towards preventing and reducing the fatality of cancer in Bangladesh, where 150,000 people die and 200,000 new cases are reported annually, with only 25% receiving treatment. Najmus Ahmed Albab, the founder of Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust (BANCAT), mentioned that while cancer may not be eradicated, building a wall against it is possible. He also emphasized the importance of awareness and education, particularly for those living in cities.

The walkathon aimed to raise awareness about cancer and its implications on patients’ lives and promote a healthier lifestyle. The event was followed by a panel discussion and celebrity engagements, including the Rangpur Riders.

The panel included several notable figures, such as Alamzeb Farjad Ahmed, vice president and director of finance at Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust; M Kaiser Rahman, chairman of Quality Feeds Limited; Professor Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, president and director of Bangladesh Cancer Society; and Suraiya Zannath, lead financial management specialist at Governance Global Practice, South Asia Region at World Bank (WB). Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed, founder and director of Brac Institute of Languages (BIL) at Brac University, Dr. Rubana Huq, Munize Manzur, head of school at Sunbeams; Farzanah Chowdhury; Sitara Ahsanullah; and Syed Mahbubur Rahman, MD of Mutual Trust Bank, among others.

During the event, Syed Al Farooque, director and chairman audit committee of CVC Finance Limited and chairman of CVC Brokerage, spoke about the significance of World Cancer Day and the importance of awareness in the fight against cancer. He also expressed his commitment to supporting the fight against cancer through CVC Finance’s partnership with Bangladesh Cancer Aid Trust (BANCAT).

Rubayat Saleheen, head of marketing and communication at Guardian Life Insurance Limited, discussed Guardian Cancer Care, the country’s first digital insurance plan for cancer treatment, which aims to bridge the care gap for cancer patients and their families. The innovative insurance plan offers financial protection, starting from Tk5 lakh, with affordable annual premiums starting from Tk12 lakh.

Participants were encouraged to raise funds through sponsorships and donations to support those in need of cancer treatment and care, with Alok Nibash as the signature project of BANCAT, which partnered with the event.