Rickshaw Relay!

Today the staff and families of the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka hosted the 3rd Annual Rickshaw Relay. This is a really fun event with 24 teams competing in cycle rickshaw races to raise money for charity.  This year, along with the Acid Survivors Foundation, World Child Cancer was chosen to be one of the charities which would receive some of the money raised.

The races take place on the main road in front of the Canadian High Commission. In fact they close to road for the morning for the race!  The event was a huge success with teams competing not only for first prize but also for best costume.  There was a team dressed as babies, Harlem Globetrotters and the winning team of Smurfs!

The were several cancer survivors who attended as well as staff from BSMMU children's cancer ward.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out with the event!

Dr. Anna and Nurse Godfrey (and his wife) volunteering to provide first aid for the event.  A few minor scrapes were the worst injury, although Dr. Anna had nightmares of last year's event where are rickshaw careened into the barbed-wire covered median of the road!  Rickshaws are harder to steer than they look!

Elias enjoying the event with Nurse Rafaya's husband.

Thrilled to have Arayan and his parents present.  He's completely cured from kidney cancer!

Some of the nurses and volunteers from Dhaka Kids with Cancer.

Barna with her son, Barno.  She is one of the hospital data managers.  Collecting information about all of the patients is vital to improving care.

The new Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and his wife, welcome to Dhaka! He was previously the ambassador to Cameroon.

Lunch time BBQ after the races.  Shabana (second from the left) with her two sons.  She works on the ward, as an assistant.  Her older son had leukemia 8 years ago and now he's cured!