What Is My Objective ?
A few months ago I made a BIG decision - to take on a difficult athletic challenge to participate in a Marathon (26.2 miles). My primary motivation is to raise funds to support 'Asha For Education'. Asha funds ongoing educational projects that provide basic education for deprived children in India. Asha is dedicated to bring about a socio-economic change in India with focus on basic education.
A small effort on my part to help some citizens of tomorrow have a better today!
I'm running today, so they can read.
I'm running today, so they can write.
I'm running today, so they can have a better tomorrow.
I've committed to complete the marathon and to raise at least $100 for each mile I run, making it a total of $2620 and hopefully more. I request you to join me in supporting this worthy cause by contributing as small or as LARGE as you like. Whatever you contribute matters - it all adds up !
What Am I Up To ?
In the beginning, I was skeptical about running 26.2 miles at a stretch and couldn't imagine finishing it, given the fact that I used to be exhausted after a mile or two. It seemed daunting to me but I soon realized it's achievable with six months of dedicated training.......from waking up at 5AM without ignoring the alarm when it goes off, to running when its 90 degrees out there….…even if it hurts, even if I have to miss my precious sleep, even if that means no Friday night movies or parties. I started building up slowly... Please check my running page [here] which has more details about the training. I was able to complete the Half-Marathon (13.3 miles) on July 29th at San Francisco (pictures [here]) and just last week I ran 22 miles :-).
Now I'm all set for the full marathon on October 7, 2007 in Chicago (official website [here]), and much more confident about finishing it. I guess it is nothing but the idea of making a difference in a child's life that keeps me going. As it has been said, "only the educated are free – Epictetus".
I always believed education is a true gift to me and I am excited about running & raising funds for this cause. Though I can't possibly make a difference in the lives of all 40 million children in India who can't afford to go to school, I'm keen to play my small part in solving this gigantic problem and I strongly request you to be a part of the solution and donate generously towards this cause.
What You Should Know About Asha ?
- Each and every penny of your donation will go to the Asha supported child education projects in India.
- Asha is one of the very few Zero-Overhead (no administrative overhead) charities in US.
- Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator ranked Asha for Education as the TOP charity operating on less than $2 million a year in the field of international relief and development.
- Your contribution is 100% tax deductible
- This year Asha runners are expected to raise around 400,000 US dollars for Asha.
- Asha has over 400 active volunteers across 66 different chapters worldwide.
- Asha has supported over 385 different projects in 24 states of India. The best thing about Asha that I like is anyone can volunteer, a truly democratic way of execution and 100% openness - you can find information of every penny raised and spent on the website !!!
What Motivated Me To Take On This Insane Challenge :)
- About 42 million children in India within age group of 6-14 cannot afford to go to school.
- 350 million people in India, who cannot read or write. That number is greater than the entire population of the United States!
- Almost half the women in India are illiterate - much lower female literacy rates than in Sub-Saharan Africa
- 1 out 5 children who enter grade 1 never complete grade 5.
- Bottom line - 52% of the world's largest nation is illiterate.
- 1 out of 3 child laborers in the world is in India.
- Where as......On average, the cost for supporting a child's education (including a daily meal) for 6 months comes around to mere US $ 180 !!! That is typically what people spend on a long weekend in US !
What You Can Do to Help !
Simple :) Make a donation...Spread the word...Join the cause...
- Getting the donation matched by your employer
- Many employers match employee contributions toward charities. Please go through the list here to check if your employer does.
- If your employer is not in the list, please talk to the HR to figure out if your contributions can be matched.
- Now, If your employer is listed in this list, please follow the special instructions listed here. You may not need to use the credit card donation form mentioned below.
- To make a donation using credit card, please fill up the form online here.
- To make a donation through check or cash, please contact me (email me @
/cell - 425.263.2839) for details.
[ ] $26.2 - $1 for each mile I run (I see your point! )
[ ] $52.4 - $2 for each mile I run (I really care!)
[ ] $104.8 - $4 for each mile I run ( I'm thankful for my education!)
[ ] $262.0 - $10 for each mile I run. (I want to put a BIG smile on children's faces! )
[ ] _____ - I am going to be make a difference in my own way!
I am eagerly looking forward to that moment when I will cross the finish line. It will be an unforgettable moment for me, one that will signify the triumph of human spirit and physical endurance and also the one that will bring a child in India, Asha (or Hope) for a better future!
Thank you so much for taking time to read this note.
Looking forward to hearing from you and please send word to your friends about this effort.
Thank you so much for taking time to read this note.
Looking forward to hearing from you and please send word to your friends about this effort.
UPDATE: I have got amazing response to this fund raising initiative so far. I was able to raise around 3000 USD in just about two weeks time! BIG Thanks to all the people who care for kids in India. People who made a donation here
