Charity runs high at Hyderabad marathon

Hyderabad: Hyderabadis proved that they care if the funds mobilised as part of the marathon were any indication. The run-for-a-cause aspect of the Hyderabad Marathon managed to collect Rs 85 lakh since its registration started two months ago.

The star runner for a cause was 10-year-old Jason Moses, who raised Rs 1.90 lakh for Operation Eyesight Universal, an NGO to which he was attached.

The teenager had over 69 donors whose unstinting gesture will fund treatment of 70 blind persons. There were many other runners with multiple causes attached to 47 NGOs at the event on Sunday.

“Charity was the highlight this year. Donations poured in from many quarters. Many people are lending a helping hand,” said Mr  Murali Nannapaneni, race director of Airtel Hyderabad Marathon.

The world, too, chipped in with a yeoman’s job. Over 1,500 donations came in from different parts of the world. There was a spectacular increase in the figure this year with Rs 85 lakh, while it was Rs 45 lakh last year.

“I started running for health benefits. But I was bowled over by the charity. This helps me to extend a helping hand to the needy,” said Dr Dinesh Chirla, director of the intensive care unit in Rainbow Children Hospital. He has been running for Heal A Child organisation since the last three years. The organisation managed to collect Rs 20 lakh last year.

NGOs from the healthcare sector benefited most from the fund-raising at the marathon. Dr Dinesh noted that since intensive-care procedures are highly expensive, monetary support from organisations is always sought after. “If NGOs meet a part of the expenses, it will be a great boon for the needy parents to get quality healthcare for their children,” he added.

As on the expected lines, the organisers had made provisions for online donations. Portals were available to donate for depression and mental health awareness by runners who ran for Linkin Park’s lead singer Chester Bennington who lost his life due to depression.