Samir Discovers That it’s the Little Things That Go a Long Way

In Pakistan, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) runs the Shaukat Khanum Tigers Club. It was launched in 2008 in response to growing support from students and young people who worked hard to fundraise for SKMCH. Today the club organizes awareness-raising activities and allows students to volunteer at the hospital.

Samir Shahid is a member of the Shaukat Khanum Tigers Club. This month he got to volunteer at the hospital in Lahore, and spend time with some of our cancer patients. When we asked him about the experience, he had a lot to say. But a particular incident really made an impact on him:

“There was this one time when I was colouring with a patient who had to go into surgery,” said Samir. “When I finished colouring, I pinned the picture on the soft board next to his bed, where he’d find it when he came out. The next day, when I visited him he was so grateful over that picture.”

Samir’s surprise isn’t new to us. And despite the years we’ve spent fighting cancer with some of the world’s poorest, often we’re still surprised. The work we do comes naturally, after all. So it’s easy to forget that often the smallest acts of kindness can make a world of difference. Especially for someone fighting a debilitating disease.

At Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA), we know that hope and high morale are vital for recovery. With the support we receive from donors and volunteers, like Smair Shahid, we’ve been keeping the morale high. With your help, we can keep the hope alive.