Cancer Crusaders of CURE Foundation to host ‘Cancer Crusaders Invitation Cup – 2012' on March 3 rd & 4 th at EMAAR MGF Boulder Hills Golf Club

‘Celebrity Play off' with Ms. D.K. Aruna, Ms. Katherine Dhanani, Smt. Tejdeep Kaur Menon; Ms. Smita Sabharwal; Ms. Shobana Kamineni, will be hosted on March 4 th , 2012.

Hyderabad, February 27 th , 2012: Cancer Crusaders of CURE Foundation are organizing a world-class golf tournament - ‘Cancer Crusaders Invitation Cup – 2012' as a fund raiser and awareness initiative, on March 3 rd & 4 th , 2012 at EMAAR MGF Boulder Hills Golf Club . This was announced at Press conference by Cine Hero, Golfer and CURE foundation Supporter Akkineni Nagarjuna ; Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy, Founder, CURE Foundation & Director, Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad; Mr. Gorav Arora, Assistant General Manager – Sales, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and HICC, Hyderabad and Mr. Saket, General Manager, Volvo Motors, today at EMAAR MGF Boulder Hills Golf Club.

The first edition of the Cancer Crusaders Invitation Cup organized in March 2010 at EMAAR MGF Boulder Hills Golf Club was a runaway success. Former Indian cricket skipper Kapil Dev Nikhanj; Star Tennis player Sania Mirza; Former All England Champion Pullela Gopichand; Cine Actresses Richa Gangopadhyay, Priyamani brought tremendous recognition to the tournament by participating along with 150 ather golfers.

This year too around 150 Golfers are expected to participate in the tournament. On Saturday, 3 rd March 2012 Ms. Sowmya, a twenty year old cancer patient of Bone Sarcoma will flag off the tournament and on Sunday, 4 th March 2012 two year old Mast. Rehan Ali, a patient of the Cancer of the Eye will flag off the day's tournament. Both these Cancer patients benefited from Cure Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion Akkineni Nagarjuna s ays, I am simply delighted to be part of such a noble cause. I appreciate Cure foundation for the yeoman service it's rendering in the crusade against this dreaded disease. Awareness helps in detecting the disease early, which ever disease it be and aids in nipping the disease in bud stage. CURE has been creating awareness about cancer and with the funds collected its treating poor kids afflicted of cancer, it has already treated 800 children, he added.

According to Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy , through this event, we intend to raise money and spread cancer awareness in the society through extensive participation from ace golfers, outstanding sports persons, celebrity figures and opinion leaders. This will be a remarkable day as the leaders of the community set an impactful example through participation and declare support to this virtuous cause. Our objective is to create a consistent, annual, respectable charity golf tournament that will be well known in the golfer community, an event that golfers look forward to every year. It will be a fun and fulfilling day of social service.

The highlight of the tournament will be participation of Celebrities from various walks of life in the play putting competition as part of ‘ Celebrity Play off' on Sunday 4 th March under flood lights at 7.00 pm on 18 th holf. The participants include Ms. D.K. Aruna , Hon'ble Minister, Information & Public Relations, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh; Ms. Katherine Dhanani , Consul General, Consulate General of the United States of America, Hyderabad; Smt. Tejdeep Kaur Menon , IPS (RR), Addl. Director General of Police; Ms. Smita Sabharwal , IAS, Collector, Karimnagar District; Ms. Shobana Kamineni , Director - new initiatives, Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd.; Dr. (Mrs.) Shashi Reddy , Doctor & W/o. Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy; Ms. Dinaz Vervatwala , Fitness Trainer; Mrs. Shilpa Reddy , Former Mrs India and Ms. Ajita Reddy , Enterpreneur.

CURE Foundation started in 2003 has helped more than 800 patients till date to get the State of the art Cancer Care to the needy patients, especially Children says Dr. Reddy . He adds that Cancer Awareness Programs are always beneficial. Sports is one of the best ways to spread awareness. Decade back we used to see 70% of patients in advanced stages. Now because of frequent Cancer Awareness programs like this, we are able to see 70% of them in early stages. He said around 9 lakh new cases of cancer were detected in India in 2010 and around 14 lakh new cases in 2011.

Tournament format-Texas Scramble                                           
Players play in groups of three of four. All drive and then select the best shot and mark it. Everyone then hits the next shot from this point.  Repeat procedure with each shot until you hole out. This event is played off handicap and we shall add all the teams member's handicaps together and divide by ten. Deduct the handicap from the final total. Maximum Handicap allowed for men is 24 and for ladies is 36.                   
Catch - All players have to hit minimum 3 drives from the Tee Box         

Format for the Celebrity Putting Contest
Each player is given a ball with her name written on it. Each participant has to putt the ball to a designated hole on the putting greens. All have to reach close to the hole. The last one is eliminated in each round.
Catch: Different holes for different rounds. The distance to the hole is increased for each round to make it difficult for players.
Estimated time-30-40 minutes.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Gorav Arora, Assistant General Manager – Sales, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre said “We are delighted to be partnered with this event in supporting this special initiative as it truly reflects our brand's principles in building a sustainable society. The Cancer Crusaders Invitation Cup will create a forum for creating awareness about cancer by an amalgamation of golfers, celebrities and public at large”.

About CURE Foundation

CURE Foundation is a spirited initiative to create consciousness on cancer prevention, early detection, cure & rehabilitation especially for the needful. In addition to spreading awareness for the benefit of the society, the foundation has so far made available quality cancer treatment to more than 500 needy patients, and engaged in numerous rehabilitation, research and education programs.