Sporting icons to raise funds for cancer victim, deceased's family

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India's sporting heroes Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly and Leander Paes have come forward to support cancer patient Bapi Majhi and the family of deceased Alip Chakraborty.

Majhi is a die-hard Mohun Bagan supporter whereas Chakraborty was an East Bengal supporter. A fundraising charity auction for the cause will be held on Saturday.

India's limited overs captain Dhoni has donated his wicket-keeping gloves and pads for the auction, which is being organised by xtratime.in, for the treatment of Majhi.

Dhoni has also wished a speedy recovery to Majhi.

Majhi was diagnosed with stomach cancer a few months back and is presently under treatment. He has undergone a series of successful chemotherapy treatments but will have to undergo more chemotherapy.

The amount raised from the auction will be handed to Majhi for his treatment as well as to Chakraborty's family, who lost the battle with cancer a week back.

Chakraborty is survived by his wife and son. He was diagnosed with tongue cancer in November last year.

Joining hands with Dhoni for the cause is cricketer Ajinkya Rahane. The vice-captain of the Indian Test team has donated his India ODI jersey.

Ganguly, who is now the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), has handed over a Mohammedan Sporting t-shirt which he wore while playing a football match on the occasion of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the century old club.

Former cricketer V.V.S. Laxman also donated his Sunrisers Hyderabad jersey signed by him with a message.

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri's jersey too will go under the hammer.

Other players including the likes of Jeje Lalpekhlua, Jhulan Goswami, Manish Pandey, Shakib al Hasan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu have also donated their belongings to the cause.

An Atletico de Kolkata jersey signed by Brazilian football legend Pele has also been put up for the auction.

--IANS

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