CHANDIGARH, 11.10.26-The Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised its Annual Sports Meet on October 11, 2026, at the PGIMER Sports Complex, in collaboration with the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO North), PGIMER. The event combined sports, fitness, camaraderie and the important message of organ donation awareness.
Held under the theme “Champions on the Field, Heroes Beyond: Celebrating Sports and the Spirit of Organ Donation,” the sports meet aimed to promote a spirit of teamwork, healthy competition and community participation while sensitising participants to the noble cause of organ donation.
Commending the initiative, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh, stated, “Such sporting events provide a refreshing break from demanding clinical duties, helping ease burnout while fostering team spirit, camaraderie and well-being among healthcare professionals. Integrating organ donation awareness with sporting events is a meaningful way to engage the community and promote this life-saving cause. Such initiatives help sensitise people, encourage informed conversations and inspire individuals to come forward for organ donation. I appreciate the organisers for combining the spirit of sportsmanship with the noble mission of saving lives through organ donation.”.
Prof. Sanjay Jain, Dean (Academics), PGIMER, also appreciated the event stated, “Academics and sports go hand in hand, as a healthy mind thrives in a healthy body. The importance of sports in promoting physical well-being, mental resilience and overall development cannot be underestimated.”
Prof. Praveen Kumar, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGIMER, appreciated the initiative and stated, "the value of organising activities that bring people together for a meaningful social cause. He noted that sports promote teamwork, discipline and a healthy spirit of participation, while the inclusion of organ donation awareness adds a significant humanitarian dimension to the event."
Dr. Suresh Kumar, Dept of Pediatrics ,PGIMER , organiser of sports meet, played a key role in coordinating the event and bringing together sports and awareness activities under a common platform. The collaboration with ROTTO North reinforced the message that organ donation awareness can be effectively promoted through institutional events and community engagement.
Dr. Vijay Tadia, Nodal Officer, ROTTO North, PGIMER, Chandigarh , highlighted the importance of using infotainment as an effective medium to promote organ donation awareness. He stated," Integrating an important social message with engaging activities such as sports makes awareness more accessible, relatable and impactful, particularly among young people. He emphasised that such innovative approaches can help dispel myths, encourage informed conversations and inspire more people to pledge for organ donation, reinforcing the message that one decision to donate organs can save multiple lives."
The event concluded with the felicitation of the winners, followed by collective pledges for organ donation, reaffirming the participants’ commitment to promoting sportsmanship, collective responsibility and awareness about the noble cause of organ donation