Shiraj, an 11-year-old, dropped out of school after being diagnosed with blood cancer, and became sad and depressed. But art therapy helped cheer him up. Through an NGO, OncoHappy, which helps cancer patients with alternative therapy options, he is learning to paint. The NGO has tied up with 15 hospitals — private and civic-run — across the city this month which is observed as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, to hold an art therapy programme for kids.

As many as 100 trained professionals will provide alternative forms of therapy to pediatric cancer patients in hospitals including the Tata Memorial, Hinduja, Sion, KEM etc through the programme.