Today, on International Women's Day, we celebrate the resilience, strength, and courage of women worldwide. Earth Angels Kemmannu chose to honor this special day by rallying around a truly inspirational woman—Mrs. Asha Fernandes, courageously battling metastatic thyroid cancer. This heartfelt initiative, quickly born from genuine compassion, underscores the profound impact collective kindness can have.
Asha Fernandes, a dedicated mother and loving wife, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer
nearly a year ago. After her initial treatment at Father Muller Medical College Hospital, she underwent major surgery in May 2024, followed by an intensive regimen of 36 radiation therapy cycles. Under the dedicated supervision of Dr. Rohan Gatty, a renowned onco-surgeon, and Dr. Dinesh Shetty, a medical oncologist, Asha continues her brave fight, now facing metastatic complications to her brain cells. John, Asha’s husband, is the family's sole breadwinner, working tirelessly at a manual job in Malpe Bunder to support their two young children, studying in the 5th and 7th standards respectively. Given their modest financial circumstances, the family was in desperate need of support.
Responding swiftly, Earth Angels Kemmannu first stepped forward with an initial contribution of Rs. 10,000, approved by our committee and personally handed over to the family by Alfred Crasto, our Honorary President, in the presence of Mrs. Veronica Cornelio, Mr. Thomas D’Souza, Suzi Fernandes, and other esteemed office bearers.
However, recognizing the substantial financial gap that still existed, Earth Angels quickly initiated an urgent fundraising campaign among members.Within mere days, our community showed remarkable empathy, swiftly raising Rs. 4,40,500.
Representatives of Earth Angels, along with Fr. Philip Neri Aranha, Parish Priest of Kemmannu, and Fr. Denis D'Sa, Parish Priest of Thottam, personally visited Asha's residence to hand over an additional cheque of Rs. 1 lakh. The remaining funds have been dedicated to her continued treatment at Father Muller Hospital.
Sharing his thoughts about this spontaneous act of kindness, Alfred Crasto warmly remarked:
"This genuine case came to our attention just around Women's Day, and while it wasn't initially a planned initiative, it quickly became a meaningful way for us to celebrate the day.
I sent a simple WhatsApp message, sharing the story with our members, and the response was truly heartwarming. Like-minded members readily stepped forward, making small sacrifices as part of our Lenten commitments.
What started as a modest effort transformed into a beautiful Women’s Day gift for Asha, inspiring her to continue fighting this brave battle”
Just a few months ago, Earth Angels had similarly rallied to support Lancy, another individual facing a critical health battle, raising approximately Rs. 4,40,500. This repeated generosity from our community highlights the importance of collective action and compassion.The collection drive for Asha Fernandes is still open until 10th March 2025. We warmly invite those touched by her story to contribute generously within this timeframe.
Thottam Church Parishoners Applaud Earth Angels Initiative
In a program held at Thottam Church premises today, Fr. Denis D'Sa acknowledged the splendid job done by Earth Angels members under the leadership of our Honorary President, Mr. Alfred Crasto, in raising this significant sum in record time. He warmly acknowledged Alfred's active involvement and thanked all the members for supporting this cause. He also encouraged parishioners of Thottam Parish to join Earth Angels and support the mission.
We at Earth Angels Kemmannu sincerely thank every member whose generous hearts made these acts of kindness possible. Each contribution, large or small, represents hope and strength in the darkest of times.
Additionally, Asha’s future treatment involves a recurring annual expense of approximately Rs. 12 Lakhs. There remains a significant amount still to be covered. If you are moved by this story and wish to personally support Asha’s ongoing treatment, we would be happy to connect you directly with her family. Please reach out to any committee member or group admin for further assistance.
God bless all our donors. You truly are Earth’s Angels. Below is a list of donors as of updating this article
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Note from the Admin: We urgently require more volunteers, particularly for social media promotion and administrative support. Members interested in dedicating their time to support our initiatives are warmly invited to contact us. Together, let's continue to grow and make a meaningful difference in our community.
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