L V Prasad Eye Institute’s flagship Eighth Edition of WHITATHON Run to Raise Awareness and Funds for Retinoblastoma Treatment held

Hyderabad, May 11: L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) organized the Eighth Edition of ‘WHITATHON’ to raise awareness about the early detection of Retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in children, and funds for its treatment. The event commemorates the World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, observed between May 10-16, this year.  

Half Marathon (21.1K) flagged off by Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman – L V Prasad Eye Institute; Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad; Mr Arun Kumar Kalliapan, President – Hyderabad Runners; 10K flagged off by Sri Venkatesh Reddy, Regional Sales Manager, Alcon Laboratories India Pvt. Ltd.; 5K flagged off by Dr Merle Fernandez, Campus Head – Kllam Anji Reddy Campus, LVPEI; and Sri Ch Srinivasa Rao, DGM, Corporate Communications, NMDC. Dr Swathi Kaliki, Head – Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, LVPEI; graced the occasion. Around 2000 enthusiastic runners participated in the run, helping raise awareness and funds for retinoblastoma treatment.

Dr Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman – LVPEI; said

“For a nation to truly thrive, awareness about health issues is essential. The purpose of this run is to spread awareness about Retinoblastoma — a rare but serious eye cancer that affects children. When a child suffers from any illness, it impacts not only their health but also their overall growth and development. The biggest challenge with Retinoblastoma is that many parents fail to recognize the symptoms at an early stage. By the time it becomes visibly noticeable and is diagnosed, it is often too late to save the eye, and in some cases, even saving the child’s life becomes difficult. This is why awareness and early detection are absolutely critical. Today, each one of you volunteered not only to spread awareness but also to raise funds, ensuring that no child is denied timely treatment and care due to lack of financial support. Your participation is helping bring hope, support, and a brighter future to countless children and their families.

Dr Vijay Anand Reddy urged

 “everyone present to spread awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma. He said, “If each of us share the awareness we picked up from being a part of Whitathon with the people in our circle of influence, we would make a big difference to ensure cases are detected early and treated enabling us to save vision and life. As a cancer specialist, one of the most common questions I am asked is, “Why did I get cancer? What could I have done that led to it?” But imagine a small child, innocent, unaware of the world, being diagnosed with an eye cancer called Retinoblastoma. These children deserve the very best treatment and care, and no child should ever be denied treatment because of financial constraints. L V Prasad Eye Institute has taken up the responsibility of providing world-class care and treatment to such children. Retinoblastoma primarily affects children below the age of four, and early detection can make a life-changing difference. One important sign parents should watch for is while taking a photograph of the child — if a white, glowing reflection or spot appears in the center of the eye instead of the normal red reflex, it is crucial to consult a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis can help save not only the eye but also the child’s life. Thank you to each and every one of you for being part of this run, for raising awareness, and for contributing funds towards the treatment and care of these little angels. Your support brings hope to many families and helps ensure a brighter future for these children.”

Dr Swathi Kaliki, Head – Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad spoke on the need to create awareness about the symptoms of retinoblastoma among the public and elaborated,

“We must educate the public, especially young parents on retinoblastoma symptoms. If you spot a white pupil reflex in a child’s eye, in a flash photograph, immediately consult an ophthalmologist. Early detection and treatment can save the child’s vision and life. The reason this run is called Whitathon is because a white reflex seen in a child’s eye can sometimes be an early sign of eye cancer, specifically Retinoblastoma. Whenever such a white reflection is noticed, it is extremely important to seek an immediate eye examination. Each one of you gathered here today has the power to spread this life-saving message among your friends, families, and communities. Greater awareness can lead to earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and ultimately save the lives and vision of countless children. Let us work together to ensure that no child suffering from Retinoblastoma loses their life or sight due to lack of awareness or access to treatment. Thank you all for being part of this meaningful cause and for helping create hope for these little children and their families.”

The funds raised from the Whitathon run are utilized to treat underprivileged children suffering from Retinoblastoma at no cost, and to support future research. This year, around 2000 enthusiastic participants joined the cause, demonstrating strong community support for the event.

Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that primarily affects children under five years of age.

What causes Retinoblastoma?

Loss of “RB1 gene” – a tumor suppressor gene whose function is to stop cells from turning cancerous.

Symptoms & Signs of Retinoblastoma

Consult a trained ophthalmologist immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in children:

• ·Leukocoria or “White reflex” (clearly visible in photographs clicked with a flash)
• ·Squint
• ·Red Eyes
• ·Swollen Eyelids
• ·Enlarged Eyes

The treatment usually involves multiple procedures and surgeries, with close monitoring over several months. From the funds raised through the whitathon, LVPEI has till date offered over 3000 treatments free of cost. 

Annually, the institute treats 150 to 200 new cases of Retinoblastoma. It was possible to save the life of a child in 90% of the cases treated at LVPEI. However, we could save vision in only 45% of these cases. 55% lost their vision because of late presentation.

Early detection and treatment ensure better outcomes for the children.

L V Prasad Eye Institute’s WHITATHON Run 2026 winners: