Friends of Max

Friends of Max Friends of Max is a Support Group for individuals impacted directly/indirectly by CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) and GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor)

A lovely memory resurfaced on the Friends of Max page, one that reminds us of the heart and soul of our communi...
01/04/2026

A lovely memory resurfaced on the Friends of Max page, one that reminds us of the heart and soul of our community.

Its dedicated network of City Chapter Leaders.

Back in March 2019, Omprakash Agarwal and Rabindra Kumar Gouda, City Chapter Leaders from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, were celebrated as FOM Volunteers of the Month, who till today continue to be the inspiring duo that they were.

https://www.facebook.com/CMLGISTsupportgroup/posts/pfbid02ogx85omU9Pi7SzV3FuVXsZYFmLWVHAyXNscDMG9fPJbhHmgZ4qTU1vyUqo4BfGael

Stay tuned as we share our Patient Advocate of the Month for March (the new nomenclature for Volunteer of the Month) in the coming days, this time featuring an inspiring trio from Guwahati, Assam.

Any guesses?

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

The Friends of Max Annual Trustee Meeting was held in Mumbai over the weekend (14-15 March 2026). Coming together was th...
20/03/2026

The Friends of Max Annual Trustee Meeting was held in Mumbai over the weekend (14-15 March 2026).

Coming together was this committed band of patient advocates from different cities, who devoted two complete days to reviewing the year gone by and to chart the course for the coming year.

That we will turn 25 next year was a thought not too far away from our minds and it was perhaps this very thought that filled us with greater energy and enthusiasm as we worked our way through a full and demanding agenda.

It was also good to have The Max Foundation India team’s representation on one morning so we could further strengthen our seamless coordination in patient related activities.

Thank You Beena Narayanan and Priyanka Kandalgaokar.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Priyanka Kandalgaokar Kubal Beena Narayanan

SAVE THE DATE-JAMMU MEETING The Max Foundation and Friends of Max are organising a Support Group Meeting for CML and GIS...
17/03/2026

SAVE THE DATE-JAMMU MEETING

The Max Foundation and Friends of Max are organising a Support Group Meeting for CML and GIST patients and their caregivers on 11th April 2026 from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm in Jammu.

Request all patients in and around to attend and make the meeting a success.

Date: 11th April 2026, Saturday
Timing: 09.00 am to 04.00 pm
Venue: Dr N S Pathania Hall, Administrative block, Government Medical College (GMC), Bakshi Nagar, Jammu 180001

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Priyanka Kandalgaokar Kubal Beena Narayanan Ashika Naik Shaileja Nambiar Chai for Cancer

After the Patient Support Group Meeting held in Kochi on 28 February , we asked patients and caregivers to share how suc...
11/03/2026

After the Patient Support Group Meeting held in Kochi on 28 February , we asked patients and caregivers to share how such meetings affect them and what motivates them to participate in such programs.

Here is what they had to say.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Priyanka Kandalgaokar KubalAshika Naik Beena Narayanan Shaileja Nambiar

March 9 Max Remembrance DayHow Max’s legacy lives on…"Cancer defines a chapter, but it doesn't have the final authority ...
09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day
How Max’s legacy lives on…

"Cancer defines a chapter, but it doesn't have the final authority to define your entire story. Once you choose hope, anything's possible."
-Nitesh Verma

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

March 9 Max Remembrance DayHow Max’s legacy lives on… "At 23, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Timel...
09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day
How Max’s legacy lives on…

"At 23, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Timely treatment with Imatinib, supported by a foundation, gave me a second chance at life. The support group Friends of Max gave me strength during my toughest days.

Max never received this medicine, but through his legacy, I live today—healthy, grateful, and committed to honoring the life he inspired."
-Abhishek Patidar

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

March 9 Max Remembrance DayHow Max’s legacy lives on…"Being diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at such a young age ...
09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day
How Max’s legacy lives on…

"Being diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at such a young age changed me in ways I never expected. At first, it was frightening and confusing. When you’re young, you don’t imagine your life including hospital visits, medications, and learning about a disease most people your age have never even heard of.

But slowly, that experience taught me something very powerful, how strong the human mind can be. I began to see life differently. I started valuing the small things more: a normal day, laughter with family, feeling healthy, even simple routines.

It also made me more determined. I realized that my life may have challenges, but it also has purpose. Instead of asking ‘Why me?’ I began asking ‘what can I do with the life I’ve been given?

Today, my journey with CML doesn’t define my limits, it reminds me every day of my strength, my resilience, and my desire to live fully and meaningfully."
-Simran Thoolkar

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day
How Max’s legacy lives on…

Simran Thoolkar, Nagpur

Being diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at such a young age changed me in ways I never expected. At first, it was frightening and confusing. When you’re young, you don’t imagine your life including hospital visits, medications, and learning about a disease most people your age have never even heard of.

But slowly, that experience taught me something very powerful, how strong the human mind can be. I began to see life differently. I started valuing the small things more: a normal day, laughter with family, feeling healthy, even simple routines.

It also made me more determined. I realized that my life may have challenges, but it also has purpose. Instead of asking ‘Why me?’ I began asking ‘what can I do with the life I’ve been given?’

Today, my journey with CML doesn’t define my limits, it reminds me every day of my strength, my resilience, and my desire to live fully and meaningfully.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

March 9 Max Remembrance DayHow Max’s legacy lives on… "Being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age was one of the mo...
09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day
How Max’s legacy lives on…

"Being diagnosed with cancer at such a young age was one of the most challenging moments of my life, but it also became a turning point that shaped who I am today. It taught me resilience, courage, and the value of every single day. Instead of letting the illness define me, it inspired me to become stronger and more determined to live a meaningful life.

My journey encouraged me to support and connect with other patients who are going through similar challenges. Being part of the Max community showed me the power of hope, empathy, and collective strength. It inspired me to spread awareness, offer encouragement to others, and remind people that even in the toughest situations, there is always hope.

Today, as I move forward in life and complete my PGDM, I carry this experience as a source of strength. It motivates me to keep growing, helping others, and living with gratitude. My journey with cancer didn’t just challenge me, it also inspired me to become more compassionate, purposeful, and determined to make a positive difference."

-Samanwita Dey

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

March 9 Max Remembrance DayMax was just 14 years old when he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.In three years’...
09/03/2026

March 9 Max Remembrance Day

Max was just 14 years old when he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

In three years’ time he was gone. There was no Imatinib or any kind of TKIs like today in those days and the only cure was a Bone Marrow Transplant. And no match could be found for young Max. So at 17 life was over for the young lad.

But that was not what Pat, Max’s stepmother and his primary caregiver and the co-founder and CEO of The Max Foundation thought.

It was all just beginning.

Neither was Max’s young life nor his cruel death going to be in vain.

In his memory and in honour of his courage and grit, the foundation was set up in his name so that all the lessons learnt while navigating his difficult journey could be shared with other parents and families undergoing the trauma of a similar diagnosis.

Today as we celebrate young Max’s life on his Remembrance Day we would like to share the stories and voices of some youngsters who were given everything that Max couldn’t have.

These are young boys and girls through whom the legacy of Max lives on.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

08/03/2026

Beyond the white coat...
Celebrating our Lady Doctors!




Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation

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Worli
Mumbai
400018

Telephone

+918291203943

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