LAKSHMI IYER
India Post News Service
FREMONT, California: Anirban Acharya, an Indian cyclist with a mission to spread awareness of bone marrow donation, visited the Vedic Dharma Samaj Fremont Hindu Temple September 3. He has embarked on a bicycle tour across the US, which he wants to complete by January 2020 before his visa expires. After that, he plans to go to South America.
Anirban received the generous support of the Indian expatriate community. Judhajit Senmazumdar, a prominent member of FOG (Festival of Globe) and Dr Romesh Japra, the Founder of the Fremont Hindu Temple and Founder and Convener of FOG took personal initiative in helping Anirban who happens to be from Kolkata in the eastern state of West Bengal in India. FOG is the group that is under the umbrella of the non-profit organization, Federation of Indian Association of Northern California (FIA).
Judhajit, who is also from Kolkata, personally hosted Anirban at his place and helped to mobilize the local community to contribute.
Vikas Agarwal, CIO of Sonasoft, a local AI company, offered his support and the firm sponsored Anirban, by getting him a brand new bicycle.
Just before the evening ‘aarti’ at the Fremont Temple, Mayor of Fremont Lily Mei presented Anirban with a certificate of recognition.
India Post had an opportunity to chat with the cyclist. (Interview edited, paraphrased and translated in some places.)
India Post (IP): How did you get into this bone marrow cause?
Anirban Acharya (AA): I rode all over India in 2015 for the cause of cancer awareness. And after that, I rode in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. We know that as per the World Health Organization, cancer is the world’s second-largest killing disease.
When I came here, the Asian-American donor organization had their bone marrow registration going on. Bone marrow donation is very important; the matching is very important. It is like a blood bank. We know who is O+ or whatever the blood group is, but we don’t know the bone marrow (type). Agar hum bone marrow ka registration karte hain, to jiska match hota hai, uske liye achha hota hai (If we do the bone marrow registration, then if someone finds a match, it is good for them).
Cycling adventure…obviously, yeh mera passion hai (it is my passion). I thought that along with the cycling and adventure, if I can get some registrations for bone marrow donation, then I can give some output to society. That is why I have taken up this challenge.
IP: How has the response been so far?
AA: Response…not too much. A little bit…not too much.
IP: In terms of funds, when you have cancer awareness walks/runs – I have participated in one myself – people contribute generously, at least financially. With bone marrow donation, it is a bit more tricky. You have to actually sign up to be a donor, right?
(India Post also mentioned the donation drive in the temple.)
AA: Exactly. Obviously, with bone marrow donation, there is a little problem in spreading awareness. Why should I do bone marrow donation? After all, nothing has happened to me (the donor).
IP: What is your background?
AA: I have done my master’s degree in yoga. I had taken some training in cancer awareness from the Indian Cancer Society in Delhi. After that, I volunteered with the Indian Cancer Society. When I was working with the Indian Cancer Society, I thought, while I was on my cycling adventure if I could pass this message on in schools, colleges, wherever I went, how would it be? Thus, I started in India. Then I went to Southeast Asia. I am from India. Here (in America), people are very aware (about cancer). But the bone marrow is a new thing. I felt that more emphasis has to be put on bone marrow donation. Act now to save a life – that is my catchline. I have been working on that.
IP: How has your family’s support been?
AA: (Smiling) Yeah, my family has been supportive.
IP: At Wellness Post, our event that happened in June, we had Somen Debnath. He had come there. Did you meet Somen? (Somen Debnath, also from West Bengal, has been cycling around the world to raise awareness about AIDS.)
AA: (Smiling) No.
IP: Did you have any responses from people like bone marrow patients and people who really need bone marrow transplants? Have they been appreciative of the work that you are doing? Do you have any personal stories?
AA: No. Actually, I am here (since) just one month. But I did not get so many stories. I did try, my journey will start from now. I will touch LA, Chicago, Washington DC.
IP: In India, you may have contacted a lot of doctors…
AA: Yes, yes. In India, I got so many stories…
IP: Great. I hope your work touches a lot of lives.
Anirban has a QR code that can be scanned with a mobile phone and by doing so, anyone can enter his/her name in the bone marrow registry. After that, the organization, the Asian American Donor Program, will call that person and ask for details to complete the registration process. Please visit AADP.org on Facebook to scan the QR code or go to: http://join.bethematch.org to register.
September 21 is World Marrow Donor Day. Bone marrow donation can save the life of a patient suffering from leukaemia (blood cancer) and other life-threatening illnesses. Ethnicity plays a big role in finding a match, so everyone, especially young adults in the age group of 18-44 are encouraged to sign up. You could save a life.
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