Asha for Education Blogs

I was in 5th standard when I had an encounter with the word “Marathon”, describing the story of Pheidippides (530 BC–490 BC) who ran approx. 175 miles . From that day I am living one dream, one day I will run in a marathon. In these recent years, I got many reasons to run a this dream run. Run for my beloved hero “Bhagat Singh” who fasted for 63 days continuously for the sake of getting good food and good clothes to prisoners during fight for Independence of India and he did get a success, Run for a dream which Bhagat Singh had, that their (Bhagat Singh,Rajguru and Sukhdeo) sacrifice for the nation will shine in lives of next generation, Run for the every individual on this planet, who wants to make/help create beautiful living for every creature on this planet and run for quenching thirst, thirst of searching the god.

This Marathon is just part of a big run, a run towards my motherland India. This is just a small journey on the way to Mumbai from Chicago (Approx. 7000 miles), a mile stone which I dream of completing before I take my last breath.

One more big reason for running is I am helping in a good cause of educating underprivileged children, who knows 1 among those will turn into personalities like Abdul Kalam, Kalpana Chawala etc.

Whenever I run a long distance, I memorize every message which was written by my friends and colleagues, “Whenever you get tired, keep running”, “Pain is the weakness leaving the body, so become strong….”, “Stay Alive and hydrated”.

And Of course for my loving wife Swati, who encouraged me to run through Asha and because of whose support I am able to run long distances like 18 miles many times.

From a fundraising front, till date I have almost completed my target with the help of my friends and colleagues. So what I expect from all of you is encouragement and a cheering to complete Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

If some one wants to help me achieve the remaining goal, request to you to do so at the below link.

http://ashanet.org/chicago/blogs/teamashachicago/runners/sandip-patil/

Once again I would like to thank, Asha team to give me this opportunity to run in Bank of America Chicago Marathon. I am also thankful to all my friends and colleagues who helped me in this great cause of enlighten the lives of underprivileged children in India.

-Sandip Vinayak Patil

After 3 yrs of hibernation, I finally decided to give some work to my running shoes. With the encouragement and support from my sweet wife, this year I am running for the BOA  Full Marathon (26 miles) in Chicago on 10/10/10.  When I decided to run I wanted to make sure that I was doing this for someone other than myself.  I wanted to be a part of something greater than the race I am going to complete.  I decided that I wanted to fundraise for a charity organization which supports educating young people.

Asha for Education exists to catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children. Since 1991 Asha for Education has supported over 385 individual projects across India and disbursed more than six million dollars in educational funding.  According to Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, Asha for Education ranks among the top in the field of International Relief and Development.

I would like to ask you to support my fundraising efforts by donating to Asha for Education.  My fundraising goal is $2000.  I will be paying for all of my training costs, including race registration and group training fees so every penny raised goes directly to support ASHA projects.  I understand that we are living in challenging and uncertain economic times therefore ANY amount you are willing to donate would be greatly appreciated.  Click here to donate: http://ashanet.org/chicago/blogs/teamashachicago/runners/krishna-chinta/

I run so they can read,

Helpful Websites

Team Asha Chicago: http://www.ashanet.org/chicago/marathon/

Team Asha Chicago Blog: http://ashanet.org/chicago/blogs/teamashachicago/

Asha for Education: http://www.ashanet.org/

Asha for Education Chicago Projects: http://ashanet.org/chicago/projects.php

                     It’s been five years since I ran a marathon and I’ve taken on the quest again this year. This time its the Indy marathon in October. I’ve laced up my shoes, the mind’s tuned to running and I’m attempting to do my part to make a real difference and fit in amongst the many trailblazers that make up Asha for Education (http://www.ashanet.org/).

                    Nineteen years since its inception, Asha For Education, with its mission to provide a basic education to those who cannot avail of one, and to bring about socioeconomic change in India, has indisputably taken root.  Amongst the movers and shakers that make up the various chapters of Asha worldwide ( 45 of its 66+ chapters are here in the US) are the Team Asha members who run for the cause of education.

                  From a meagre ( but important) group of six that was the nascentTeam Asha Chicago(http://ashanet.org/Chicago/blogs/teamashachicago/) in 2005, of which I was a part, we grew to a 100+ last year. As if that were not enough to spur one on, our annual reports show that the funds we’ve raised thus far are reaping ripe dividends. We’re seeing our projects grow; and our moneys, in the form of an education, are reaching those that often think of an education as a privilege and not the basic right it should be.

                 With 385 projects under our belt, Asha has much to be proud of, but we know that the work is far from done. And so we keep ploughing on towards the goal. Just knowing that as one person, I can help start to move a tiny mountain for a few, one little pebble at a time, and enable them to work towards better opportunities gives me a big dollop of satisfaction. Multiply that by the effort of a few hundred of us runners and we’ve changed a few lives forever. And for the better.

                  What a spirited lot to be a proud part of, and what a fantastic way to prove the POWER OF (a collective) ONE!

                 With that sort of fire lit under me, its hard to not try again to make that tangible difference. I am running the Indianapolis full marathon this year, with a goal to raise $1200 (and more) to help continue to support Asha Chicago’s projects. Knowing that every donor and supporter of Asha, and of me, appreciates what having an education has done for us, I am counting on your support to make this endeavour of mine a fruitful one.

               And so, with deep appreciation and sincere, heartfelt gratitude for your support, I will run so that they can read.

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