Chai for Cancer

13/07/2026

Chai for Cancer dedicates this year’s GIST Awareness Day to the memory of Friends of Max (FOM) GIST Patient Advocate Dr. Nikhil Guhagarkar.

Nikhil was the pride of our FOM GIST family bringing many international accolades to us through his advocacy and awareness work. Though he is no longer with us, we continue to feel his presence in our midst and draw inspiration from the legacy of courage and compassion that he left behind.

On this special day let us come together with his wife, Manju, and raise our cups of chai to honour his memory and make a difference in the lives of those affected by sarcomas and GIST.




Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Friends of Max The Life Raft Group Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network - SPAGN

08/07/2026

to 11th June 2022.
Some Addas just continue to remain fresh in our minds like the one hosted by Sujata and Satish Mane at their Pune home a few years ago. An unforgettable gathering where familiar faces and new ones came together for an evening of homelike warmth and camaraderie.

Friends of Max's Pune City Chapter leaders Nikhil Batra, Abhishek and Amruta Patidar made sure the evening ran smoothly till all the happy guests left with full hearts.

But the real heart of the evening? Viji Venkatesh's words describing the campaign and Its objective and the courage in Abhishek and Nikhil's voices as they opened up about their own cancer journeys.

To hosts like the Manes who turn their homes into spaces of eternal hope, we will always remain grateful.

Want to revisit the Adda? Read the story here:
https://chaiforcancer.org/sujata-satish-manes-adda-pune-2022/

Want to know how to host an Adda?
Write to us at

08/07/2026

Thank you to Dr Jude Vaz, and to his lovely wife Dr Anita, for raising their cups of chai for the cause and supporting the many cancer patients that we all work for together.

Both Dr Jude and Dr Anita are leading Pathologists from Mumbai who have been and continue to be long standing supporters of Friends of Max and Chai for Cancer.

Viji Venkatesh The Max Foundation Friends of Max

06/07/2026

Let’s replace fear with an empathetic ear, a generous heart and the comforting warmth of a cup of chai.

By hosting a Chai for Cancer Adda, you can help bring people together to raise awareness and support those living with cancer.

Join us and raise your voice (and your cups) to make a difference especially during this Sarcoma Awareness Month.
Sarcoma is a cancer affecting the connective tissue in our body. GIST belongs to this type of cancer .

Together, let us amplify our voices and bring attention to this important cause!

03/07/2026

29/06/2026

A proud moment indeed for the Friends of Max and Chai for Cancer!

Congratulations to Viji Venkatesh, Managing Trustee of Friends of Max and Founder of Chai for Cancer, on the successful release of

We're so happy to see Angikaaram winning hearts and receiving overwhelming appreciation from audiences and critics alike on its opening weekend.

A film that fearlessly speaks the truth, Angikaaram tells a moving story of courage, justice and resilience and highlights the institutional barriers faced by grassroots athletes. Aathiran (Kotapadi J. Rajesh) and Viji's deeply compelling performance is touching hearts and winning praise.

As Viji shared:
"It is so important that films like Angikaaram that fearlessly speak truth to power do well, are accepted, appreciated and encouraged by the audience."

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew, including Director
Jp Thenpathiyan, Cinematographer Vishwa, lead actor KJR and the team at Swastik Visions, for bringing this inspiring story to life.

If you haven't watched it yet, don't miss , running successfully in theatres!

25/06/2026

Lodhi Gardens Adda 2026:

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a month since the Lodhi Gardens Adda on May 24th!

Time flies so fast. Just taking a moment to revisit that morning and remember how a simple daily morning walk turned into a passionate movement for a cause.

25/06/2026

At Friends of Max (FOM), it is always a pleasure to work with interns who bring fresh perspectives, generate new ideas and infuse our work with renewed energy.

In return, we strive to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to contribute to the social sector while growing both professionally and personally.

So we are especially happy when this dynamic works.

Proudly sharing what Siddharth, our summer intern from Bangalore who assisted with the launch of Season 13 of Chai for Cancer, FOM's unique awareness and fundraising campaign, had to say about his experience:

“It was a rewarding experience that helped me learn and grow both personally and professionally.”

A big thank you to all the interns who have been part of our journey so far. Your enthusiasm and contributions continue to inspire us.

If you are a student or a young professional looking for a meaningful internship experience and are passionate about learning more about communication and NGO management, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us and explore opportunities to be part of our work.

Write to us at [email protected]



Friends of Max