Kolkata Group Brings Joy to Kids With Cancer for 9 Years

Every February 14th since 2017, a special gathering has been lighting up the halls of Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Kolkata. This year marked the ninth time that Rendezvous, a dedicated volunteer group, transformed International Childhood Cancer Day into an afternoon of joy for children fighting cancer and their families.

The word "rendezvous" means a meeting at a secret place. For these families, it's become something more: a yearly reminder that they're not alone.

This year's celebration on Saturday brought live music performances, dance shows, and poetry recitations to the hospital. The organizers didn't just entertain from a stage. They walked through the children's wards with notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, toys, and homemade food packets for every young patient.

Parents got their own moment of fun too. A special game show let them step away from worry for a bit, with winners taking home prizes.

The group presented a check for Rs 15,000 (about $180 USD) to the hospital to help with ongoing care costs. While the amount might seem modest, it represents months of fundraising by ordinary people who wanted to make a difference.

The Ripple Effect

Nine years of showing up matters more than a single grand gesture. Rendezvous has created an annual tradition that gives families something to look forward to during the hardest time of their lives.

The event drew support from an impressive lineup of local leaders, including cancer specialists, a psychologist, teachers, artists, and even a former Member of Parliament. Their presence sends a message to these children: your community sees you, values you, and celebrates you.

For kids spending weeks or months in treatment, a single afternoon of normalcy can feel like medicine itself. The laughter from Saturday's games, the color of new toys, the taste of homemade food—these small joys add up to something bigger than the sum of their parts.

Rendezvous proves that consistent compassion doesn't require massive resources, just committed hearts willing to show up year after year.