Indus Cycling Embassy donates first cycle to Varsha

Thiruvananthapuram: Hardly two weeks have passed since Indus Cycling Embassy (ICE) announced the 'ICE Donate A Cycle' campaign, and on Friday, the first cycle was donated to Government Central High School, Attakkulangara. Though the campaign asked people to donate only Rs 50 a month, many donated more. Now, the cycling club has managed to collect Rs 16,000.

Cycles will be donated to girl students in poor families. "Some have asked me why the gender discrimination. But, normally, I have seen that families prefer buying cycles for their sons. This campaign is a way to empower girl children," says Prakash Gopinath, co-founder of ICE. The first cycle, was handed over by Arun Surendran, principal, Trinity College of Engineering, Nemom, to R Varsha a Class IX student at the Central High School.

Varsha was chosen because her teachers think she has a bright future as a sportsperson. Varsha has represented Sri Aurobindo Mira Matriculation HSS, Madurai, several times for fencing. She and her family left Madurai after her father passed away. ICE plans to donate one cycle to a girl child every month. The ones who like to be part of the campaign can contact Prakash at 80894-94442.