More than 2,000 enthusiastic runners took to the streets of Hyderabad on Sunday, May 2026, for the eighth edition of the Whitathon, a landmark charity run organized by the L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI). The event coincided with World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, drawing attention to a rare but serious eye cancer that primarily affects children under five years of age.
The half-marathon, 10-kilometer, and 5-kilometer races aimed not only to promote fitness and community engagement but also to raise critical awareness and funds for the early detection and treatment of retinoblastoma, a condition that claims vision and lives when detected late.
Dr. Prashant Garg, Executive Chairman of LVPEI, emphasized the urgency of the cause during the event’s opening remarks. “For a nation to truly thrive, awareness about health issues is essential,” Dr. Garg stated, highlighting the particularly difficult challenge facing parents: many fail to recognize the symptoms of retinoblastoma at its early stages. “By the time it becomes visibly noticeable and is diagnosed, it is often too late to save the eye, and in some cases, even saving the child’s life becomes difficult,” he said, underscoring the critical importance of early detection.
The event’s name itself carries a message: Whitathon refers to a white or yellowish-white glow that may appear in the center of a child’s eye — a symptom that demands immediate medical attention. This “white reflex” is particularly noticeable in flash photographs and can serve as an early warning sign of retinoblastoma. Dr. Swathi Kaliki, Head of the Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer at LVPEI, elaborated on this crucial symptom. “If you spot a white pupil reflex in a child’s eye in a flash photograph, immediately consult an ophthalmologist,” she advised parents during the event.
The medical expert further noted that early detection and treatment can save not only the child’s vision but their life. “Each one of you gathered here today has the power to spread this life-saving message among your friends, families, and communities,” she told participants.
The event featured multiple race categories. The half marathon was flagged off by Dr. Prashant Garg, alongside Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy, Director of Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad, and Mr. Arun Kumar Kalliapan, President of Hyderabad Runners. The 10K race was launched by Sri Venkatesh Reddy, Regional Sales Manager at Alcon Laboratories India, and Dr. Merle Fernandez, Campus Head of Kallam Anji Reddy Campus at LVPEI. The 5K race was flagged off by Sri Ch Srinivasa Rao, DGM of Corporate Communications at NMDC. The competitive spirit was evident across all categories, with top performers including Sangeeta Phalswal in the female half-marathon (2:19:09) and Suraj Sarkar among male runners (1:30:02).
Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy, a senior cancer specialist, stressed that retinoblastoma is uniquely tragic because the victims are innocent children unaware of the world around them. “These children deserve the very best treatment and care, and no child should ever be denied treatment because of financial constraints,” he said. He emphasized that as awareness spreads through community participation, cases would be detected earlier, enabling medical teams to save both vision and life. “If each of us shares the awareness we picked up from being a part of Whitathon with the people in our circle of influence, we would make a big difference,” Dr. Reddy stated.
Retinoblastoma is caused by a loss of the RB1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene whose function is to prevent cells from becoming cancerous. While rare, its consequences are profound. Parents and caregivers should be alert for several warning signs, including leukocoria or “white reflex” which is most noticeable in flash photographs, squint or unusual eye crossing, persistent redness without apparent cause, unexplained puffiness around the eyes, and abnormal enlargement of one or both eyes.
LVPEI’s track record demonstrates both the promise and challenge of early intervention. The institute treats 150 to 200 new retinoblastoma cases annually. Of these, the institute has achieved a 90% survival rate — a testament to world-class treatment protocols. However, the vision-saving rate tells a sobering story: only 45% of patients retain their sight, while 55% lose vision due to late presentation. This disparity underscores the critical importance of awareness campaigns like Whitathon.
To date, through funds raised from the annual event, LVPEI has provided over 3,000 free treatments to underprivileged children battling retinoblastoma. The money also supports ongoing research into early detection methods and improved treatment protocols.
The success of the 2026 Whitathon was built on broad community support. Diamond sponsors Alcon Laboratories India was joined by gold sponsors including DSR Prime Spaces, the National Mineral Development Corporation, and GTN Engineering India Ltd. Additional backing came from a network of silver and bronze sponsors, including Cure Foundation, Roche Products, Premier Energies Limited, and Rotary Lake District Moinabad. Over a dozen corporate partners — from technology giants like Microsoft, Oracle, and Optum to wellness providers like Akshayakalpa and Nutri Nest — helped ensure the event’s smooth execution and maximum reach.
LVPEI, established in 1987, operates as a comprehensive eye health institute and WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness. With a network of 310+ centers spanning Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka, the institute has delivered over 24 million center-based eye care services, with more than 50% provided entirely free of cost. The Whitathon exemplifies LVPEI’s mission: to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need, regardless of their financial status.
As the sun set on the eighth Whitathon, the message from 2,000 participants was clear: no child should lose their sight or life to a preventable, treatable disease because their parents didn’t know the warning signs or couldn’t afford treatment. For families with young children, the lesson is simple: if you see a white glow or reflex in a child’s eye during a photograph with flash, consult an ophthalmologist immediately. That single step could save both sight and life.
-Rashmi Kumari
