Image: Northeast Now

In a noble initiative, Football Players Association of Sikkim (FPAS) has come forward to raise fund for an ailing national footballer from Sikkim, Reeya Lepcha.

National and state footballers from Sikkim have been going around different locations in and around Gangtok with donation boxes for fundraising from Monday.

Fifteen-years-old Reeya Lepcha, who represented Sikkim in senior national football tournament, has been diagnosed with brain tumour and had the first minor surgery on October 28 last.

She has been referred to Apollo Hospital, Delhi for further treatment from the Central Referral Hospital, Tadong.

She hails from Sangkhu Radukhandu GPU under Maneybong-Dentam constituency in West Sikkim.

It has been known that the parents are unable to meet the expensive medical costs of their daughter’s treatment and appealed for financial support from the people.

Speaking to media persons in Gangtok on Monday, FPAS president, Nirmal Chettri said the initiative has been taken by the football fraternity of the State led by FPAS to support a promising national footballer from Sikkim.

He added that the initiative will continue for few next days to raise fund for the ailing footballer.

“We want the quick recovery of Reeya Lepcha as she deserved to be on the ground at the earliest,” he said.

“The people have been coming forward and we want more people to contribute for her as a small contribution can make big difference,” he expressed.

He informed that over Rs 10 lakhs were required for the treatment.

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]