Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi raises funds for cancer patients

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi inaugurated an art exhibition to raise funds for cancer patients in Mumbai.

Over 50 artists from across the country have put their paintings on display.

Oberoi is the brand ambassador of Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) that organized the exhibition.

He said the revenue generated by the exhibition would be used to help nearly 15,000 cancer patients.

"We help nearly 15,000 cancer patients every year who are deprived of treatment and medicines as they are underprivileged. People may not have this idea but cancer is a deadly and painful disease and without medicines one cannot get relief,” Oberoi said.

“To bring relief to those cancer patients and give them the hope to live again -- some people even survive the disease. For such a noble cause today these painters have donated their painting," he added.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, there are five million cancer cases in India at any given time, with 8,00,000 new cases and 550,000 cancer deaths occurring each year.

Cancer causes seven million deaths every year or 12.5% of deaths worldwide.

It is estimated that by 2020, there will be 16 million new cases every year.