‘Trail depicts Southern love for Northern children’

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

‘Trail - Children’s Cancer Hospital Fund Raising Walk’ is a good example to project the Southern society’s love towards Northern children,” Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said at the closing ceremony of the event at Durayappah Stadium, in Jaffna, yesterday.

He further stated that the end of the trail walk is an unforgettable moment for all because it gathered individuals from all parts of the island sans nationality or religion to bind them in a heartwarming project.

Rajapaksa addressing the gathering in Tamil said, “After 30 years of terrorism the people of the North are finally enjoying peace and prosperity. Projects like this give them new hopes and aspirations. The government and the corporate sector need to work together to share the welfare needs of the country. It is not the region that matters but the fact that we have won freedom of our motherland and we should look towards her development.”

‘Trail - A journey by the living’, for life, organized by the Colours of Courage trust took off to raise funds to build a paediatric cancer ward for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital on July 1. The 27 day walk from Dondra to Point Pedro comprised of 670 km in 135 hours with 900 000 steps.

Many renowned figures including cricketers, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Matthews and artistes like Dr Malani Fonseka and Roshan Ranawana took part in the event. More than 30,000 people took part.

The walk reached its target in Point Pedro yesterday morning.

Speaking to the Daily News Colours of Courage Trustee and MAS Holdings Group Director Dian Gomes said that they have collected nearly Rs 140 million.

“We have achieved our target. We need Rs 200 million to build the cancer hospital. We walked the last 16 km today. A lot of people from the South and Kandy have supported us in this cause.

We hope to complete the hospital in 24 months,” he said.

Former cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena stated that he had been involved in various cancer related projects in the past.

“I am Colours of Courage trustee. Trail is a massive project undertaken by several warm hearted people. The public response has been massive,” he said.