Access Life Foundation

Founding Philosophy:
Access Life Foundation’s vision is to “To create an environment where children have access to quality health care and holistic support and which allows families to face the weight of illness together”.

Girish Nair, Founder & Chairman (CEO)
He comes with over 15 years of rich experience in Finance Management and has worked in various industries like Aviation, Public Relations and Travel. He has been associated with several organizations, including Ethiopian Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Neucom Consulting (PR Firm), SGS Enterprises & Nexus Travel Solutions. He was awarded the Asia-Pacific Cancer Society's Training Grant (APCASOT) for a training program in Australia in 2016.

Ankeet Dave, Co Founder & Executive Director (COO)
He has over a decade of experience in Public Relations (PR) and Communications management. He has worked for renowned PR Agencies, like Hanmer MS&L and Vaishnavi Communications servicing clients in the media and entertainment space as well as managing PR for celebrities.

With a vision “To create an environment where children have access to quality health care and holistic support and which allows families to face the weight of illness together”. 

With a mission “To provide all the children from the age 0-14 years coming to Mumbai for treatment of cancer, a clean, safe, comfortable, caring and cost-free accommodation, wherein their families are able to better comfort and support them, while actively participating in their care”.

In India, children diagnosed with cancer in remote areas often struggle to access proper treatment due to limited medical infrastructure and specialist availability. Families are usually advised to travel to cities like Mumbai for advanced care, but financial constraints hinder their ability to relocate. Organizations such as Access Life Assistance Foundation (AL) step in, offering temporary housing and holistic support to underprivileged families. AL bridges the gap by providing essential resources, ensuring that underserved families can access quality care in urban centers.

70%-90% of childhood cancers are curable and studies have shown that children battling cancer and without access to proper hygienic accommodation and nutrition are 5 times more like not to survive.

Access Life Assistance Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established in June 2014 by Girish Nair and Ankeet Dave, committed to supporting families of children undergoing cancer treatment. With 10 centers across India, AL provides safe, temporary housing and comprehensive care to underprivileged families who travel from remote areas to access medical facilities in cities. Over 2,286 children have benefitted from Access Life’s services, which include a nurturing environment, nutritional support, educational assistance, and transportation to hospitals. By addressing the psychological and social challenges of cancer, the foundation ensures families can focus on their child’s recovery without the stress of survival needs.

The foundation’s programs aim to improve the overall well-being of children with cancer and their families. Key interventions include providing essential nutritional support, safe transportation to minimize infection risks, and counseling services for emotional support. Access Life also offers weekly yoga sessions, non-formal education to keep children engaged, and recreational activities like music and storytelling to bring moments of joy. Hygiene kits are distributed to promote health and cleanliness, while the foundation continuously strives to provide a clean, comfortable, and cost-free accommodation for families, ensuring they can focus on their child's treatment and care.

Geographic Focus:
10 Centers across 7 cities in India – with 4 in Mumbai, and one each in Pune, Manipal, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore

Annual Operating Budget:
Operating spend of approx. INR 14 crore per annum.

Partners:
Azim Premji Foundation, Harish & Bina Shah Foundation, HDFC Credila, Kotak Securities, Larsen & Toubro, LTIMindree Foundation, Indiana Group, Merck Group, Polycab Social Welfare Foundation, Rotary Club Mumbai Queen's Necklace, Safari Industries, United Way of Mumbai (Deloitte).

Since 2015 Nikunj Jhaveri & Sanjeev Mehta, co-founders of The Helm Initiative, have been serving as members of the Advisory Board and are part of the Fund Raising & Capacity Building commitment for Access Life.