Runner Id: 2008TASV1261

Meet Aarti. 5'6'' MBA , USA Working for a Catastrophe Risk modeling company in the US. Intrepid Sportswoman, A Never-Say-Die Attitude Runner Id: 2008TASV1261

Since Aarti went away to the US a couple of years back, (From my oh so limited perspective), I believed that her world was pretty much about "I need to complete my MBA, get good grades"...then it moved onto 'I need to get a job, a good job'; And then a few interviews and a change of city later she landed up in a great job with a financial firm. I was sooo wrong. There was so much more to her. A few days ago her G-Talk status message started sounding a little strange "Aarti did 10 miles", "Aarti did 11 today". And when I asked her about it, she sent me an email...which I think have forwarded to most of you reading this :) She's running a fund-raiser marathon. 13 Miles. This one's to help raise funds to provide education to kids in India.

I was a little intrigued by 'this whole-marathon-thing...and as I dug around, I saw the enormity of the issue and the difference the program is making ...in its own way. Child Literacy: As I read through the net, I began to get a sense of how important a social issue Child Labour and Child Literacy is. It is perhaps a very strategic lever which can be used to transform society. On a macro level, when you look at the numbers, its astounding! And on a micro-individual level, take a moment, delve into a child's mind and feeling and see how it would be - to live amidst domestic violence, poverty, to have to work everyday to eat that next meal...to see all those 'other kids' in thier fancy uniforms...well you get the point. I put a small montage together... a picture does speak a thousand words...

The Asha Marathon Program: What began as a single city, single digit participation in the marathons has now become a mulit city program in the US and in other parts of the world. People are encouraged to participate, and if not complete the full marathon, partially do so. They are given coaching classes, support as required...and funds can be raised by each runner...just like Aarti is doing. All the money goes out to fund Asha's programs around child literacy in India. The money raised is just one of the outcomes - people are willing to take on personal challenges to run the marathon - many running in successive years; coaching programs have been set up and its being held in multiple cities. Coming back to the issue of child labour... I guess there have always been moments of empathy, sympathy, anger, frustration and a whole host of emotions one has felt with the issue of Child Labour and Education.

This moment is a call for action.

If you would like to do some Armchair Contribution - click the link below. You can donate using a credit card...

Donate Here

By the way - its not elaborate procedure at all - took me about 8 mins...and perfectly safe.

Every rupee, and dollar, euro counts - so whatever your 'denomination'... do go ahead and give - nothing is too small.

And in case you want to forward the 'donation' link to people:

http://tiny.cc/cBIiu

NB: None of the images on this post come from me. They have been picked up from the public domain on the internet. I just put them together in a video format. Music from Enigma - I hope they pardon any IP issues in the view of supporting child literacy programs.