November 10, 2025: On November 9, 2025, Mumbai witnessed an evening where melody meets meaning, as CanKids KidsCan, India’s largest childhood cancer NGO, and Bansuri Music Group (Music with A Mission) presented “Sunehre Swar – Ban Jayenge Gold” an event to raise funds for Mahacares For Kids With Cancer. This is part of CanKids nationwide ‘Ban Jayenge Gold’ campaign inspired by gold, the global symbol for childhood cancer awareness. This charity concert celebrated courage, compassion, and the spirit of children who bravely fight cancer.
Graced by prominent personalities from music, healthcare, philanthropy, and public life, like Dr Sanjay Mukherjee (Metropolitan Commissioner – MMRDA) , Shri Ranjeet Deol (Principal Secretary – School Education & Sports Department) , Dr Shripad Banavali (Director Academics Tata Memorial Centre & Professor Dept of Medical & Pediatric Oncology), Dr Purna Kurkure ( Head Pediatric Oncology SRCC Children’s Hospital) and many more, the evening featured some of Mumbai’s finest singers like Dr Rahul Joshi, Rajessh Iyer & Sangeeta Malekar performing timeless Bollywood classics by legends like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle &R.D. Burman, transforming music into a message of hope.
Addressing the audience, Poonam Bagai Founder Chairman CanKids said: “When music meets mission, hearts unite — and hope sings louder. CanKids has been working in Maharashtra since 2010 — opening the first special school Canshala for kids with cancer in 2012 in a PPP with MCGM , and signing 2 state health MoUs with the Maharashtra Govt (MEDD and NHM) in 2019. Through our Change for Childhood Cancer in Maharashtra project CanKids has driven access, financial protection and survival for children with cancer and their families. We are looking to raise funds of around INR 3.5 crore for 2 large initiatives. Of these, INR 1.5 crore is to to provide vital, upfront emergency medical assistance to 1,000 children at TMH Mumbai and INR 2 crore to strengthen regional childhood cancer divisions at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Pune (with Kolhapur–Sangli)”
Speaking about CanKids, Shri Sanjay Mukherjee (IAS) the current MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner said, “I have known CanKids since 2019. It is an amazing organization and its heartening to see the progress which has since been made collectively towards driving awareness and change for childhood cancer from then to now and am excited to be a part of this evening of music, joy and awareness. Today 73% of estimated children who have cancer in the state are accessing care and collectively with the help of all, we will reach the goal of 100%.”
Said Dr Banavali (Director Academics TMH & Prof Medical &Pediatric Oncology) : “Childhood cancer is highly curable but along with medical treatment and the funds required for that, there is support required for education, accommodation, counselling, nutrition which organisations like CanKids provide to bring about change for childhood cancer in Maharashtra.”
Shri Ranjeet Deol (IAS) said “I am delighted to observe that through its CanshalaforLife and other educational programs, CanKids is supporting the Right to Education for children with cancer. This ensures that they don’t drop out of school while undergoing prolonged treatment. He assured support and engagement with CanKids in all aspects related to these programs in Maharashtra.”
The evening ended with a full house with heart warming scenes of love, affection and emotion as the audience sang and danced with kids battling cancer ending with the collective promise of “Cancer Ko Dhishoom Dhishoom! Ban Jayenge Gold”
