Chandigarh, May 18, 2025: In memory of the nephew of BJP Chandigarh’s former state president and ex-Mayor Arun Sood and his three friends, who tragically lost their lives in a road accident on this day last year, Rishaan Foundation organized its first large-scale blood donation, eye donation, and organ donation registration camp at the Community Center in Sector 19, Chandigarh. The camp also included mammography tests for cancer screening in women and DEXA scans for bone density checks.
The camp was virtually inaugurated by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria.
A total of 358 people donated blood, 150 pledged their eyes, and 75 registered for organ donation. Additionally, mammography tests were conducted for 125 women and DEXA scans for 200 individuals.
Present on the occasion were Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Sandhu, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, Ambala MP Varun Chaudhary, Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain, Principal Secretary to the CM of Haryana Arun Gupta, Banto Kataria, Ranjeeta Mehta, Ekta Nagpal, Keshni Anand (Retired Chief Secretary & Chairman, Ground Water Board), Dr. Suman (Director, Sector 16 Hospital), Dr. Atri (Director, Sector 32 Hospital), BJP Chandigarh State President Jatinder Malhotra, Swami Sampurnanand Ji Maharaj, Kamli Mata Ji, Manisha Didi, Bavra Maharishi Sanstha, HS Lucky (State Congress President), Subhash Sharma (Punjab BJP State Co-Head), and many other dignitaries.
MPs Kangana Ranaut, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Sher Singh Gubaya, Raju Bista, Suresh Gopinath Mahatre, Mitesh Patel, and Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal also sent their condolences in writing.
The camp collected 116 units of blood for PGI Chandigarh, 164 units for Government Medical College & Hospital Sector 32, and 78 units for Government Hospital Sector 16.
Medical staff collected blood from the donors, while Sector 32 Hospital provided mammography vans and DEXA scan services.
Providing information about the camp, Rishaan Foundation’s founding members Major R.S. Virk, Sanjeev Sood, and Arun Sood said that on this very day last year, Ishaan Sood, Reet, Ribhhu, and Kushagra lost their lives in a tragic road accident.
That day was shocking and heartbreaking for all parents involved and their families.
Though we couldn’t stop our children from leaving us, to keep their memories alive, their parents, friends, and relatives decided to form a social organization and carry out continuous community service in their names.This led to the formation of the Rishaan Foundation, and the blood donation camp is its first official initiative.
They further shared that after the foundation was established, a family living in a small flat in Maloya — consisting of a 17-year-old girl and four boys aged 14 and 12 — lost their parents.
The Housing Board issued them a notice due to unpaid installments and warned of canceling their house. The eldest daughter, struggling to support her siblings, reached out to Rishaan Foundation.
Understanding the gravity of the situation and the risk of the children being left homeless, the Foundation immediately decided to pay off all outstanding dues and future installments, along with monthly rations, clothes, and education expenses, so the children could stand on their own feet in the future.
Thus, the Foundation took its first step toward social service, officially beginning with this blood donation camp.
Expressing his views on the establishment and initiatives of the Rishaan Foundation, Chandigarh’s Hon’ble Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said that the way the parents of the deceased created a voluntary organization in their names to serve society is a true tribute to the departed souls.
Adopting underprivileged children and taking full responsibility for their upbringing is an inspiring gesture for all.
He also appreciated the Foundation’s dedication of the camp to the Indian Armed Forces, mentioning Operation Sindoor and the pride India takes in its military.
Through today’s blood donation camp, many needy individuals received life-saving blood, and many lives will be saved.
We all must contribute to society — this is the true purpose of life.