Call it an outpouring of faith or a measure of star-struck fans. But a single Tweet from Indian willow star Sachin Tendulkar could actually change the lives of many cancer-afflicted children.

In less than 24 hours since the cricketer tweeted on the social networking site for support, the kitty of the Sachin's Crusade Against Cancer in Children showed almost Rs 67 lakh. Several corporate houses and individuals ha signed up to dine with the Tendulkars on May 27 even as around a hundred individuals had electronically sent in sums ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 for the cause. "It is all about changing goodwill into support for a good cause," says Dr P Jagannath, the cancer surgeon whose websiteindiacancer.org has roped in Tendulkar for the charity drive. 

The campaign's aim is to raise Rs 1 crore as the initial corpus. This would help the group raise Rs 10 lakh each year to help treatment of about 20 cancer-afflicted children. Cancer care is extremely expensive as it involves recurring costs for medicines, tests and surgery. Costs for some childhood cancers run into lakhs. "This campaign seeks to raise funds for children afflicted by cancer anywhere in India and under treatment in any good hospital," says the doctor. 

Tweeting about his new drive on Thursday afternoon, Tendulkar exhorted his 2.85 lakh followers in Twitter-dom to "Join hands with me to give a new lease of life and hope to children afflicted from cancer". Fans can either chip in sums ranging rom Rs 2,000 to Rs 25,000 for the cause and get personally signed mementoes or meet the star to make higher contributions. On May 27, Tendulkar is hosting an exclusive charity dinner in the city for the cause. 

Dinner for one would mean shelling out Rs 50,000 while a family outing with the Tendulkars would work out to Rs 1 lakh. 

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You can read about the help that some people with cancer are seeking here:

http://ow.ly/UcJ8