Social media campaign raises Rs 6.5 crore for toddler battling rare disease

New Delhi: A social media campaign led by influencer Sunny Mahor has raised around Rs 6.5 crore for the treatment of a two-year-old girl diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1.

The child’s mother had reportedly been seeking help outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in south Delhi after doctors advised urgent treatment. The family said the injection required for the child’s condition costs around Rs 9 crore.

Mahor, known for his community outreach efforts on Instagram, encountered the mother outside the hospital and launched an appeal for donations. Accompanied by his team, he showed the child’s medical documents to members of the public and urged them to contribute whatever they could, including small amounts.

SMA Type 1 is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and can severely impair muscle movement. The child’s mother said doctors had warned that she had only a limited period in which to arrange the treatment.

The fundraising campaign was later taken to Delhi’s Jama Masjid, where Mahor and his team appealed to people attending Friday prayers. Wearing T-shirts carrying photographs of the mother and child, the volunteers displayed medical records and QR codes for digital donations.

Videos showed several worshippers contributing money, while others made payments through the UPI code displayed by the team. Mahor said the campaign was aimed at saving the child’s life rather than raising money for any other purpose.

According to an Instagram video posted on September 24, the campaign had collected approximately Rs 6.5 crore, exceeding its initial target of Rs 4.2 crore.

The appeal attracted widespread attention, with the video reportedly receiving 33.6 million views and four million likes. Donations came from supporters in Delhi and other parts of the country.