MS Dhoni, Leander Paes' noble gesture for cancer patient

Kolkata, June 6: India's limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and multiple Grand Slam champion Leander Paes are among a host of top sportspersons, who have decided to come forward to help Kolkata-based cancer patient Bapi Majhi and the family of deceased Alip Chakraborty.

The charity fund-raising auction will take place at a Central Kolkata hotel on June 11. It is being organised by Kolkata based media group by sports website xtratime.in.

Dhoni will not be present in person (he will be in Zimbabwe) but he has donated his wicketkeeping gloves and pads used in limited overs while Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane donated his autographed India jersey for the fund-raiser.

Leander has decided to donate one of his racquets used in ATP tour for the upcoming auction.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has decided to donate a couple of his jerseys while Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has given his autographed bat for the auction.

Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman, KKR players Manish Pandey, Brad Hogg, Indian women's team pacer Jhulan Goswami, Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri and his team-mate Jeje Lalpheklhua have all donated their jerseys.

Goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu has given his signed keeping gloves. The entire amount collected will be handed over to Bapi Majhi's family as he is undergoing treatment for liver cancer.

A part of the amount will be handed over to late Alip Chakraborty's wife for the education of her children.

Alip passed away recently after suffering from throat cancer. Bapi is an ardent Mohun Bagan fan, who used to be a regular at club's matches till last year. Similarly Alip was an East Bengal fan.

PTI