Patna Vishal Lions Club sets up a Toy Bank for children battling cancer
A child receiving cancer treatment spends hours in hospital wards — waiting, undergoing procedures, and sitting through long routines that leave little room for simply being a child. The medical care is essential. But so is everything else: distraction, play, the small normalcy of holding a toy. Members of Patna Vishal Lions Club, District 322E, recognized that gap and acted on it. They established a Toy Bank at Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital, Mastichak, Saran — one of Bihar’s most respected healthcare institutions, known for its advanced facilities and its policy of providing free treatment to patients from economically weaker sections. That commitment made it a natural partner for the initiative.
The Toy Bank is stocked with toys and games for children undergoing treatment for paediatric cancer and other serious illnesses. The hospital’s dedicated children’s ward serves young patients from Bihar and neighbouring regions, and it is here that the Toy Bank helps bring a sense of normalcy to children going through a challenging time.
Emotional wellbeing plays an important role in helping children cope with prolonged treatment. By providing opportunities for play and distraction, the Toy Bank helps reduce stress and brighten long days spent in hospital.
District Governor Pradeep Khetan formally inaugurated the initiative in the presence of PDG Sanjay Awasthi, Chairperson Anoop Kumar, members of Patna Vishal Lions Club, Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital’s healthcare staff and other dignitaries. Their collective presence at the inauguration reflected broad support for an approach that treats the child, not just the illness.
