Friends of Max (FOM) is a patient support group registered with the Charities Commissioner of India, established in 2003 to support those coping with rare cancers requiring lifelong treatment. Guided by our vision that no cancer patient should live a diminished and compromised life, we have grown into one of the largest patient support groups of its kind in the world — and we now seek to bring this proven, patient-centric model of care to the acute leukemia community in India.

Our two decades of experience supporting blood cancer patients gives us a strong foundation for this work. We have provided care and assistance to over 18,000 patients, built a nationwide network of 24 city chapters with 340 active volunteers, and established a Medical Advisory Board of 15 leading Indian oncologists along with strong associations with the country’s premier cancer hospitals. Of our 1,500+ registered members, more than 1,000 are leukemia patients and over 500 are caregivers and family members — a community that understands firsthand the emotional, informational and practical needs that accompany a leukemia diagnosis.

The support systems we have built translate directly to the needs of acute leukemia patients: monthly regional patient support group meetings, at-no-cost home diagnostic testing (delivered to more than 5,000 patients to date), development and distribution of reliable disease-related information, financial aid covering educational costs for children affected by cancer, and our “Chai for Cancer” campaign, which raises awareness and funds for patients from weaker socio-economic backgrounds. Having successfully extended our care model from CML to blood disorders under the MPN umbrella, expanding into acute leukemias is the natural next step in our journey.

As an FCRA-approved NGO listed on the Government of India’s official NGO portal, with rigorous financial governance and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, and as active members of international networks including UICC, CML Advocates Network, iCMLf, MPN Advocates and The Life Raft Group, Friends of Max is well positioned to be a trusted, accountable partner in advancing support and advocacy for acute leukemia patients and their families across India.