Swarupananda Cancer Foundation

We are based out of Bangaberia, specifically in the Chaitanyapur area. The foundation is set up at Lakshman Chandra Halder’s place. It’s a quiet spot, which is good because the work we do at Swarupananda Cancer Foundation can be quite heavy. We aren't doctors ourselves, but we spend a lot of time helping families navigate the mess of hospital visits and medicine costs. It’s a lot of sitting around the table with paperwork and phone calls. The air is a bit cleaner out here in Bangaberia than in the city, which is nice for the patients when they come to visit us. We don't have a big sign outside or a glass building. It’s just a house where people know they can come if they’re in trouble. Lakshman is usually around to point people in the right direction. We deal with a lot of people who are scared and don't know what to do next. We just try to be a calm place for them. There’s no marketing budget or glossy brochures here. We just use what we have to help out. Sometimes we’re just a place for someone to sit and talk for an hour. The local community has been supportive, and we’ve become a bit of a fixture in this part of Chaitanyapur. It’s simple work, but it takes up all our time and we wouldn't have it any other way. It is just about being there.