On Sunday, March 8, 2026, Mr. Gabriel Pereira, the Organ Donation Ambassador for the MOHAN Foundation, was invited to deliver a talk to cyclists participating in the Cyclothon on World Kidney Day, held at Aquem, Margao, Goa.
The event was organized by the Shree Damodar Dialysis Centre (a Keshav Seva Sadhana initiative) in collaboration with the Goa Society of Nephrology. It began at 7 a.m. from the famous Colva Beach in Goa and concluded at the Shree Damodar Dialysis Centre, where breakfast was provided. The Chief Guest for the event was Shri Damodar Naik, President of the Goa State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
During his talk, Mr. Gabriel introduced the MOHAN Foundation and explained his motivation for advocating organ donation, which stemmed from a family member's experience with kidney failure. He highlighted that only individuals declared brain dead can be organ donors, while those who pass away at home can potentially be tissue or body donors. He also engaged the cyclists by asking if they knew the licensed transplant hospitals in the state. Those who provided the correct answers received a keychain engraved with the MOHAN Foundation Organ Donation Transplant Helpline number, 1800 103 7100. Furthermore, he described which organs or tissues are transplanted at the respective hospitals and emphasised that family consent is crucial for organ donation; without consent from the next of kin, organ donation cannot take place.
Dr. Amol Mahaldar, a nephrologist and IMA Goa State organ coordinator, spoke about kidney care, noting that 1 in 10 Indians suffers from chronic kidney disease. Around 60 cyclists took part in the event. At the end of the event, Gabriel expressed his gratitude to Dr. Suprita Pai of the Shree Damodar Dialysis Centre and the Executive Committee for including the MOHAN Foundation in this important event.
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