- A charity concert to save a life
An 11-hour charity music festival (11 a.m. to 12 midnight), featuring some of Sri Lanka’s best bands, DJs, and solo artists will be taking place at Toddy by Hoppa, Unwatuna on 12 March.
All proceeds from the concert will go to saving the life of a 16-year-old boy currently battling leukaemia.
Speaking with Brunch, Gordon White, the father of the 16-year-old currently battling a rare form of cancer, shared that the reason why this concert is titled “Angel Time” is because the way events transpired and everything came together to bring them hope has been truly angelic.
Gordon shared that his older son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia that only 2% of cancer patients suffer from, and due to this, Sri Lanka does not have the resources to treat his son.
He said that while they were desperately searching for someone who could help their son, they came across Dr. Saman Hewamana, perhaps the only consultant specialist in clinical haematology/ haemato-oncology in Sri Lanka. Gordon’s son is currently under the doctor’s care. However, according to medical advice, his best chances would be to transfer his son to a hospital in Singapore which would cost around Rs. 100 million.
Gordon shared that this was really an unimaginable cost, which he and his family could not bear. However, he said that while they have been in conversation with doctors from Singapore to transfer his son there, they have also come across some doctors who may be able to perform a bone marrow transplant for his son.
“It is a risky procedure and we were still advised that the resources are simply not available here,” he said, adding: “But in what feels like a true miracle, two of my other sons, his two brothers, are a 100% match for the bone marrow. So we are now hopeful that we might be able to carry out the procedure in Sri Lanka. Because mostly, complications arise when the match is around 50-55% where there is a likelihood of rejection. However, in this case, we are very lucky.”
Gordon stated that it is still an expensive procedure but even more so, the aftercare would be a huge cost as well, and while he is uncertain of the numbers from this charity effort, he is still truly warmed and inspired by the efforts of the community that has come to gather around his son.
“My son is a Peterite, and many of those who have rallied round us were from St. Peters. There were those who sent donations, there are some who have sponsored t-shirts to be sold at the event, the lights, stage, and sounds are all fully sponsored for the event, and the numerous bands, musicians, artists who have agreed to play – all of it felt like a miracle as it came together. Even Lion Brewery has agreed to have a stall where they would donate a certain percentage from their profits,” he said.
Gordon reflected on how many of us are currently experiencing challenges of our own, and yet people’s humanity is such that they are able to put aside their own challenges to lend a hand to someone else in need.
For tickets, contact +94 76 278 1919.
For donations, visit https://gofund.me/d4cb0050.