Supporting Cancer Research in India Through Tata Memorial Hospital

The Annual Terry Fox Run has become a cherished CIS tradition. For 14 years, our entire community - students, parents, teachers, alumni, friends, and the wider Bangalore community, has come together on campus to raise funds for cancer research. What began as one event has grown into a meaningful tradition that unites families across grades and nationalities, making hope and courage part of our school culture. It is a reminder that every step we take has the power to create change. While the run itself is symbolic of courage and determination, the funds we raise each year have a very real impact on cancer research here in India.

Supporting Cancer Research in India

Every rupee raised through the Terry Fox Run at CIS Bangalore is directed to the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, one of India’s most respected institutions for cancer care and research. The hospital not only treats thousands of patients every year but also leads pioneering research in prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Cancer research is expensive and often slow-moving, but it is the foundation on which breakthroughs are built.

The funds our community contributes go toward:

• Clinical research and trials that test innovative treatment methods.
• Early detection studies, which are critical in a country where many cancers are diagnosed at later stages.
• Infrastructure and technology upgrades that allow doctors and researchers to work more efficiently.
• Training the next generation of oncologists and researchers who will carry this fight forward.

 

From the School Grounds to the Labs

What makes the Terry Fox Run special is the bridge it creates between school traditions and scientific progress. When our students sell T-shirts, run laps on campus, or lead awareness campaigns through platforms like FuelADream, they’re not just raising money, they’re helping advance research that could save lives.

For example, something as simple as a ₹900 T-shirt purchase might feel small, but when multiplied across a community, it becomes part of a much larger pool of funding that supports vital projects at Tata Memorial. Our collective effort ensures that progress doesn’t remain confined to textbooks or global headlines, it happens here, in India, where it is most urgently needed.

Teaching Purpose Beyond Participation

For our students, this connection is powerful. They don’t just learn about Terry Fox’s story; they see how their own actions ripple outward. Students discover that running a few kilometres or organizing a small fundraiser can link directly to scientists working on breakthroughs, doctors treating patients, and families holding onto hope.

In a world where young people are often told they can change the future, the Terry Fox Run shows them exactly how. Each rupee raised is a lesson in empathy, responsibility, and the importance of community-driven change.

Why It Matters

Cancer continues to be one of the leading health challenges in India, with millions of new cases diagnosed every year. By contributing locally, our community is helping strengthen the country’s capacity to face this challenge with better tools, knowledge, and treatments. The Terry Fox Run allows us to be part of this progress, not in abstract terms, but in direct support of the institutions that lead the fight.

Carrying Terry’s dream forward

On September 20, 2025, when the CIS community gathers for the 14th Annual Terry Fox Run, every step taken and every rupee raised will carry Terry’s dream forward, fueling cancer research in India and ensuring that hope continues to grow.

This is why we run. This is why we fundraise. And this is why traditions like the Terry Fox Run matter, not just as events on the school calendar, but as acts of purpose that change lives.