Bengaluru: In a celebration of goodwill and to foster the spirit of giving back to society, TCS 10K Bengaluru announced a record-breaking collection of 7.55 crore from the recently concluded 10th edition of the feted run to support a bevy of causes, at a charity-themed event on Wednesday.
Over 23,000 people took part in the run, raising money for 91 civil society organisations aiding 12 principal causes – children, persons with disability, community development, elderly, education, environment and animal welfare, health and supporting the girl child, among others. The chief facilitator for the charity drive, which takes home a chunk of the credit for raising collections by a whopping 25% over last year – was India Cares Foundation. The NGO supports a wide range of causes and estimates the impact of last year’s 6.05 crore collection at 19,000 people. Empirically, that figure is bound to rise.
“We are very proud to be a partner of the TCS10K, Bangalore’s premier sporting event. We are cause-agnostic and support every cause. The money this year has been used in many ways, from buying hearing aids for the needy, to building libraries and supporting children’s education,” said Rajan Narayanan, President of India Cares Foundation.
Donors ranged from senior citizens to school children. Most notably, 11-year-old Maya D’souza of Vidyashilp Academy took home the Youngest Care Champion award for pledging 2.24 lakh towards Reaching Hand, an orphanage in the city.
“My parents inspired me the most and encouraged me to run (the 10k). I wanted to help the orphanage, which I have visited since I was five and where I have made many friends,” she said, encapsulating the very ethos of the event.
