Innovative Mask with Message campaign inspiring cancer patients to fight COVID-19

June 03 01:39 2020
Unique masks with motivating messages by COVID Supply Initiative are helping cancer patients to stay strong in the face of Coronavirus pandemic.

Scottsdale, AZ, USA – June 02, 2020 – COVID-19 is proving to be a deadly menace and more so for cancer patients. But, three highly spirited teen students from Phoenix (Arjun & Arun Moorthy and Roshan Pillai) are determined to make the world safer for cancer patients, especially in the wake of the virus pandemic. The trio has launched a community-driven program, COVID Supply Initiative (CSI), that aims to inspire cancer patients strongly fight the heinous virus through motivating message-inscribed masks.

CSI has launched a global mask pairing initiative that connects mask makers with cancer patients or health organizations working for cancer patients.

“A recent Lancet study has reported that immunocompromised cancer patients are nearly 5x more likely to develop severe complications from COVID-19 in comparison to the general population. These already vulnerable people face an impossible choice: stay home and hopefully stay free from coronavirus, or leave home to receive life-saving treatments. If they stay at home, they won’t get access to all the needed treatments. And if they go out for their oncology treatments, they are always at a greater risk of getting infected with Coronavirus. This is where face masks come to the rescue and we are determined to provide masks to every cancer patient in the world”, stated the dynamic teen trio adding that CDC has highly recommended cloth masks to limit infection and flatten the curve.

While masks are nothing new of late, what separates CSI’s masks from the rest is their accompanying messages. Each mask here carries an inspiring message such as – “You are a fighter” and “Cancer may have started the fight, but you will win it.”

“We’ve always looked to help our community,” Pillai said. “We knew that we couldn’t sit idle while people suffer.”

The mask pairing campaign initially began by collecting homemade and donated masks to distribute to patients undergoing chemotherapy at cancer centers across Phoenix. But in just a few weeks, CSI has been able to rope in partnerships with several large oncology groups beyond their local area. Currently, the organization distributes masks to esteemed healthcare establishments including Honor Health, Virginia Piper Cancer Center, Ironwood Cancer Center, and Palo Verde Cancer Specialists.

While speaking about the inspiration behind the masks with messages, Arjun Moorthy mentioned about lonely cancer patients who are suffering from lack of support of late due to the closure of support groups. 

“With support groups closed due to lockdown, many cancer patients are alone in their arduous journey today. Family members also aren’t allowed with them during their treatment which makes things even more grueling for them. In such grim times, our masks with inspirational messages have been able to fill their life with hope, courage and strength to withstand the virus menace like a boss”, explained Arjun Moorthy.

CSI not only hands out masks in-person to cancer patients but also takes time out to talk to them to boost their morale and spirit. The local masks carry handmade notes jotted by none other than the Moorthy brothers and Pillai. Other masks carry notes of encouragement (based on suggestions from CSI) from mask donators worldwide. 

“We want to make mask donation as easy as a click of a button. People with extra masks can go to our website, find where they are needed, and then send directly there,” noted Arun Moorthy.

CSI’s innovative masks with messages have been highly appreciated. Most importantly, patients are often seen smiling when they read the adjoining messages. Some have written when they see the messages, they almost forget where they are sitting. 

“It is very touching and impactful to know someone is thinking of me and those who are also in my position. This act of generosity and seeing youth be proactive in their community gives me hope for the future generation”, stated a patient with breast cancer while lauding CSI’s innovative masks with message initiative. 

Even the mask makers are in praise for the trio’s campaign against COVID-19.

“It’s so nice to see young people acting on great ideas and helping out during the crisis. I’m happy to be a part of it”, noted one mask maker from Portugal.

Added to masks with messages, CSI is also dedicated to supply other protective gears for cancer patients, including gloves, sanitizer, suits and so on.

For more information, please visit https://www.covidsupplyinitiative.org/.

Media Contact
Company Name: COVID Supply Initiative
Contact Person: Arjun K. Moorthy
Email: Send Email
City: Scottsdale
State: AZ
Country: United States
Website: https://www.covidsupplyinitiative.org

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