Sharmistha Gooptu in London
We are at Lord’s for India versus England – the third test in the ongoing series, and the mother of them all, a Test match at the ‘home of cricket’. And yet, the day started off on a much larger note – on the note of cancer awareness and to generate awareness and support for families facing the loss of a member to the dreaded disease. More specifically, the Ruth Strauss Foundation, named after the deceased wife of ex-England captain Andrew Strauss, on this day raises awareness and funds via the game of cricket, for children facing the loss of a parent to cancer.
For any of us who have a cancer survivor or a family member who has or is battling the disease, the cause cannot be overstated. And today the MCC sent out a morning notification to members of the media to wear red in support of the cause. Inside the Grace Gate this morning, and all over the stadium, spectators, media persons, volunteers and workers were clothed in red, selling hats and the roses – emblematized with the initials of Ruth Strauss – the proceeds from each of these going towards the support of patients and caregiving enterprises.
The volunteer at the entry point to the media lift told me she had been marvelling at an Indian lady in red! Other volunteers happily posed for pictures for us. In the media box, each member arrived to find a Ruth rose badge on their seat, and some bucket hats and wristbands were given away to members of the media. The on-field ceremony to support the cause, before the start of the day’s play, had the players and officials involved.
Like the Pink Test in Sydney which is dedicated to the cause of cancer awareness, the Red Day at Lord’s gives back from cricket to the larger society, a truly worthy cause.
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