Balakrishna raise donations in Dallas to fund Cancer Institute

Dallas, Texas July 3: Nandamuri Balakrishna visited Dallas with a noble cause of raising awareness and inviting greater participation from the NRI community in the Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital.

Dallas Telugu NRI's and Nandamuri fans participated with compassion and came in numbers to the banquet at Marriott Hotel in Plano, Texas and made the event a grand success.

Satish Manduva, Vinod Uppu, Chalapathi Rao Kondragunta & Srikanth Polavarapu welcomed chief guest Nandamuri Balakrishna to the event. Suresh Manduva welcomed all attendees with quotes from the great NTR 'Manava Seve Madhva Seva', 'Samajame Devalayam, Prajale Devullu' and started the program.

Around 300 guests from various walks of life and political affinities attended the event keeping the great cause in perspective.

The event started with lighting of lamp by the chief guest Nandamuri Balakrishna Garu accompanied by Smt. Bramaramba Kondragunta, Smt. Sowmya Manduva, Smt. Subhashini Boyareddy, Sai Kondragunta and Srija Uppu.

Nandamuri Balakrishna Garu greeted attendees at each table in his usual style and asked their native places, what they do etc.

Audience enjoyed great live music concert by Kalavahini with singer Maharajapuram Ramu and other Dallas local singers. They entertained Nandamuri fans by singing songs from NTR and Balayya's movies.

Rajesh Adusumilli started the meeting and invited Oncologist Dr. Neelima Maddukuri. Dr. Neelima talked about how aggressively cancer was spreading and potential prevention measures that could be taken.

She acknowledged the services being offered at the Basvatakarakam Cancer Institute and also the Dallas community who came and pledged significant amount of contributions to the Institute.

Dr. Roopa Vemulapalli, practicing in UT Southwest followed up and explained the dangers of Colon Cancer and how testing is important.

Medical Student Sushmi Kosuri talked about Susan G. Comen Foundation and their contribution for breast cancer awareness, she praised Basavatharakam Cancer Institute for dedicated cancer care in Hyderabad.

Dr. Navneetkrishna Gorrepati and Dr. Raghavendra Prasad talked about the need for donations for the right cause and praised all the attendees who came to support.

Later Sarvodaya Mandali secretary Prasad Gollanapalli presented a book and felicitated Balayya with shawl.

Nandamuri Balakrishna was welcomed on to the stage by Rajesh Adusumilli and was felicitated by Chalapathi Kondragunta, Sambasivarao Jasti and Satish Manduva. Vinod Uppu, Srinivas Ravella, Srinivas Bavireddy & Krishna Korada accompanied Nandamuri Balakrishna to the stage.

Balakrishna greeted all and acknowledged the achievements of the NRIs who came to US, worked hard and reached greater heights in a foreign nation. He appreciated the generous support by Dallas Telugu NRIs.

He talked about his mother Smt. Basvatharakam's struggle with cancer, lack of proper treatments and her demise. Balayya explained how his father Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao took help from various doctors and sponsors to start the Basvatharakam Cancer Institute.

He also explained how Basvatharakam Cancer Institute became first in the country to have both research and hospital facilities. Balakrishna brought the attention of the countless poor that are not able to afford cancer treatments and how the Institute is conducting research to provide low cost medications to the poor.

He committed that all the financial contributions to the institute will be used to continue and sustain the help being offered to the needy people. Institute is planning to start satellite hospitals in other parts of the state like Vijayawada, Vizag and Nizamabad.

Balakrishan requested the Dallas Telugu community to get further involved and support the cause.

At the request of Balayya fans, Balayya enthralled the gathering with powerful dialogues from his movies. After that Balakrishna gave mementos to all the major donors that supported the event.

The audience also got to appreciate a memorable dance performance by Nadiya. She performed gracefully embodying various expressions of Devi. Her performance received a standing applause.

Organizers gave a check of $84,500 to Nandamuri Balakrishna. Program comcluded by thanking all the donors who came with big heart and all the Nandamuri Fans who made the event a great success.

The event was organized and supported by Dr. Navneet Krishna Gorrepati, Dr. Raghavendra Prasad, Venkat Kolli, Chalapathi Rao Kondrugunta, Satish Manduva, Vinod Uppu, Murali Vennam, Suresh Manduva, Srinivas Ravella, Krishna Korada, Srinivas Koneru, Rajesh Adusumilli, Samba Dodda, Sridhar Kodela, Sridhar Tummala, Srinivas Kavuri, Srinivas Bhavireddy, Srikanth Polavarapu, Jyothi Vanam, Ananth Mallavarapu, Sashi Devireddy,Venkat Saranu, Baskar Rayavaram, Ram Tatineni, Surya Ramanidu, Subhash Neelakanti, Venkat Gutta, Bhima Penta, Ramki Chebrolu, Subbarao Ponnuru, Kavitha Akula, Ashok Chittiprolu, Poorna Vemulapalli & Chandra Ponnapureddy.

Major Donors for this Cause: Anjaneya Chowdary Samineni, Venkat Kolli, Dr. Navneetkrishna Gorrepati, Chalapathi Kondragunta, Satish Manduva, Anil Kilaru, Vinod Uppu, Sudhakar Peram, Ramarao Mullapudi, Sambasivarao Jasti, Jayaram B. Naidu, Prasad Valluripalli, Dr. Raghavendra Prasad, Dr. Yogi Chimata, Srikanth Polavarapu, Srinivas Koneru, Murali Vennam and Sarigama Super Market.