Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 4: The trustees of G Shanker Trust, led by Shamili, daughter of Nadoja G Shanker, visited Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI) on October 4 to extend healthcare aid to patients suffering from cancer and kidney ailments. The delegation was warmly received by Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, director of FMCI, who offered his blessings and appreciation for the Trust’s benevolent service to humanity.
The G Shanker Family Trust is a charitable organisation based in Ambalapadi, Udupi, founded by Nadoja awardee G Shanker. The Trust actively engages in social service, focusing on providing aid to patients suffering from cancer and kidney ailments, and recognising accomplished individuals in various fields. The Trust has been a generous benefactor supporting patients with cancer and renal diseases for several years. Continuing this noble tradition, it has sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 20,000 each to 42 cancer patients and Rs 10,000 each to 27 dialysis patients at Father Muller, with the funds to be directly transferred to their individual bank accounts to aid in treatment expenses. The aim of the Trust is to help 700 cancer and 300 kidney disease patients this year.
Speaking on the occasion, Anand, a family member representing the Trust, shared the inspiration behind the philanthropic gesture and the legacy of compassion envisioned by the late G Shanker. He mentioned the various social causes that the Trust supports, including aid to Yakshagana artists, special schools, and retirement homes in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.
In his address, Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo reflected on the divine calling of compassion, stating,
“We are all beautiful creations of God, made in His image and likeness. Disease and suffering test our faith, yet they also call us to share in the pain of others. Humanity is best expressed when we care for those in need. The G Shanker Trust today stands as another testament to that humanity, extending kindness to patients who struggle financially. May this noble gesture be a blessing upon G Shanker, his family, and all who labour through this Trust to alleviate human suffering.”
The donation programme coincided with October 5, the birthday of G Shanker, whose life is marked by generosity and a spirit of selfless giving. His guiding words, “The act of giving to others is the work of God; service to humanity is service to God,” continue to inspire the Trust’s charitable endeavours. David Sequeira, former public relations officer of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, facilitated the organisation of the event.
The Father Muller Medical College Hospital (FMMCH), a unit of FMCI, has consistently upheld its mission of compassionate care. In the previous financial year alone, the institution extended concessions amounting to Rs 102 crore to patients, ensuring access to quality healthcare through advanced technology and expert medical teams at subsidised costs.
May such acts of charity inspire many more to shoulder the burdens of their fellow beings, transcending barriers of caste and creed, so that humanity may continue to prevail in its truest sense.