Omprakash Agarwal and Rabindra Kumar Gouda of Bhubaneswar share the FOM Volunteer of the Month platform for March 2019.
Two enterprising and dynamic individuals whose paths were joined by CML and Friends of Max. Two kind hearted persons who have consistently upheld the FOM dictum: Together We Share And Learn. Their roles in all Patient Support Group Meetings and their sense of teamwork, rallying patients and caregivers for all Bhubaneswar-centric activities has been exemplary. In addition, their whole families – wives and children — have been committed volunteers at each and every FOM meeting held in the city.
Their roles in all Patient Support Group Meetings and their sense of teamwork, rallying patients and caregivers for all Bhubaneswar-centric activities has been exemplary. In addition, their whole families – wives and children — have been committed volunteers at each and every FOM meeting held in the city.
Omprakash is an entrepreneur in the Industrial Water Treatment sector and an active member of Rameshwar Temple Trust, XIMB Alumni Association and UCCI. His wife Kavita is a homemaker and has been a source of constant support to him since he was diagnosed with CML in 2008. His elder son Aditya Dhanawat is a doctor and younger son Arnav, is in school. He loves travelling and exploring new places. His message to fellow CML patients and their caregivers is a famous phrase from Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep”.
Rabindra joined FOM at his first meeting in Bhubaneswar (in 2009-2010). He constantly supports patients and has organised Chai for cancer fundraisers. Many patients call him for advice and like a true FOM volunteer he shares information and learnings. My wife Gitanjali has been a great source of strength and an active supporter of FOM activities. His daughter (Anannya Anwesa) and son (Aman Animesh) were 7- 8 yeas old when he was diagnosed from CML. It was a deeply troubling time professionally and personally. But his faith in The Max Foundation and his determination to guide his children to become ‘good human beings’ saw him overcome the crisis. He is also associated with Ashani Academy (for children), several national and international organizations and Govt projects in Orissa