In lives dimmed by affliction and age, this rare sunshine of a dream-come-true is what the Grant a Smile Foundation (GSF) endeavours to achieve. The brainchild of Anil Bora, a businessman, GSF has so far made the wishes of 405 terminally ill children aged 3-18 come true and fulfilled dreams of 150 senior citizens consigned to old-age homes or a solitary existence. "Emotional and practical help is as important as financial aid, but remains unappreciated," says Bora.
Yearning to serve society in ways not tried before, Bora and his wife chanced upon like-willed initiatives through magazines and the internet and began the local chapter of the US-based Make a Wish Foundation in ’98 and the Second Wind Dream project for senior citizens in 2000. To meld the two approaches, they set out on their own in ’03 as GSF. The Boras put in the initial seed fund—Anil runs a successful pharma business. Now they also tap funds although they still put in most of the money.
Inspired by the UK-based Rainbow Trust, they subsequently started Rainbow Home, a place where families of terminally ill children are offered a 3-4-day free stay as a respite from the grind of medical care. "This also benefits healthy siblings who feel neglected when the ailing kids receive all parental attention," explains Bora.
From food to pastime, meticulous arrangements are made to make the families feel at home. They are also helped with details of NGOs providing monetary aid. Having hosted 50 such families, mostly from the lower socio-economic bracket, GSF extended the concept in ’04 to include senior citizens, 30 of whom have since stayed there. "We make them feel special with gestures like cutting a cake to welcome them," says Bora.
Through GSF, over 40 volunteers aged 16-70 from various walks of life are spiritedly serving the cause of the smile, gaining personal solace and satisfaction in return. They all resonate with myriad tales of hope and triumph. Like that of Akhtar, 14, who, despite crutches and a rod in his leg, rode a glider sitting in the flier’s seat; or Yash, 12, who couldn’t believe he was meeting Hrithik Roshan; or 10-year-old Celina (name changed) who found a buddy in a laptop computer; or the thalassemic Shahnawaz, 11, whose choice to play with a white toy monkey sent the GSF volunteers scouring shops, until they found a lady who specially made the toy. While many revel in visiting multiplexes, beaches, amusement parks, others dote on gifts like dolls, bikes, videogames, CD players or computers.
On the far end of the spectrum are the likes of Perry Thomas, who, at 82, played a game of tennis followed by steaming idli-sambar to relive younger times; or those like the Barve couple who always wanted to fly and were moved to tears on receiving air tickets to visit their Delhi-based daughter they hadn’t seen in 15 years; or others like a septuagenarian who has already authorised GSF to immerse her ashes in Kashi when she dies as her daughters have declined her request.
Some of the much-needed funds at GSF come from the sale of promotional items, which also spread the message of the organisation. Says Bora, "We can’t cure, but we can certainly care."
Contact GSF at: 4, Anand Park, Mihir Terraces, Aundh, Pune—411007. Tel: (020) 25889663/25883939 Website: http://www.grantasmile.org
