As a new team member of The Max Foundation, I feel honored to work with an organization that advocates for patients dealing with blood cancer. This global health organization has helped thousands of patients get access to treatment, provide education and awareness, and bring a community together throughout the world.
The Colors of Hope Art Collection is a vivid example of community work that empowers patients and caregivers to speak up about their journeys while dealing with cancer through art. The current gallery display at the University of Washington not only provides a glimpse of beautiful art from around the globe, but also each picture echoes the strength, resilience and hope each patient has.
These 24 pieces of artwork remind us that as a community we need to keep fighting for equal access to cancer treatment and keep bringing the subject to our policymakers. There are still thousands of people around the world without any access to medication and treatment. High costs of treatment, lack of support and lack of information are some of the reasons of why patients don’t get treatment. These pieces of artwork encourage us to look at our community and advocate for those who are dealing with cancer to help them find strength, courage, and hope.
The artwork will be on display until August 21st, 2014 and I invite you to stop by and feel the strength our community brings together.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
Each year on October 19th, Max’s Day, we honor Maximiliano “Max” Rivarola and his legacy of lifesaving support for cancer survivors through the work of The Max Foundation. This year, on Max’s Day at The Max Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, I wrote a letter to Max, reflecting on what his legacy has meant for patients,….
This summer, India Country Head Viji Venkatesh is crisscrossing the USA to host Chai for Cancer addas and share The Max Foundation vision. Started in India, Chai for Cancer is our global initiative to invite our community to partner with us. There have already been a number of events in Houston, Charlotte, and New Jersey with more to come!
Each year, The Max Foundation chooses a colleague to receive our Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award, honoring a member of our global team who has done something especially remarkable that year. On December 17th, we were delighted to present this year’s Excellence in Patient Advocacy Award to Viji Venkatesh, Region Head for South Asia, for her tireless dedication to the patients she serves.
