Ravi Turlapati
- Race: Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon
- Previous Marathon(s): Not any marathon’s yet, but finished the shamrock shuffle!! (5 mile run in the snow in 2009), and Rock and Roll Half in 2009
- Projects Supported: Aralu, Asmita, Gramya, Navjyoti
- Longest Run: 8.5 miles
- Miles run this season: — miles
Check out CNN’s coverage of the impact Asha for Education has in India.
The relevant links to the Project/ School are :
Asha for Education Projects Listing
Why the Run and Why ASHA?
Run:
I never totally understood the concept of a marathon or a run to be honest. I always viewed it from the point of view that; if the idea is to raise money; why do I have to run? Pretty stupid, now that I think of it, but that was really how I thought of it.
Although, the fact is and just to clarify : You run for a cause!! What ever that might be. Fund raising is a part of it and not just the core idea!!
That brings me to a larger question: What is the cause then?
Asha:
In short; it is a non profit org that works solely for very poor children’s education in India. India is a developing nation with humungous challenges. There is a large amount of poverty. While there are lots of organizations trying to help reduce this, I felt the best way for a country to really take care of itself lies in its own hands. For this to happen; I am totally sold to the idea that if the young are educated they can and would make good choices for them selves and in turn for the country and mankind. Asha works to educate the poor kids who are forced to work as they have to earn money to feed their own family.
I cannot fathom how my life would be with out education!!It is in search of my Masters Degree that I came to US and there cannot be a better way for me to get back to my country while selfishly leading a life of pleasures and not so many hassles.
I am sure you all would have watched slum dog millionaire and so you have a pretty good idea who they are or might be.
What every one probably know is: The slum dog’s life style/ their miseries and so on and so forth
What every one need to realise is: You can educate a child in a village in India for a year with as less money as 1000 Rs(which is 25 $). Believe it or not, challenge me if you want, but it is a fact.
What you also need to realise is :
All the things that you blow away your 25 $ or 1000 RS (Poker games, casinos, movies, dinner’s, a club in NY/ Chicago, a beer party, when you are lazy and late to work and cab to get there, gift for a birthday…and the list is endless)
To all my frnds who give me gifts –
Skip my next gift// I am serious!! You can even skip my wedding gift. (I gave 3000 RS recently for one)
I am not suggesting you need to contribute!! I am not asking you to. I am making a sales pitch that clearly dictates one fact. The money that you spend is some thing you dont even think of at times and it is some thing this child has to sacrifice his child hood for.
MY RUNS:
If you know me well; you would know how lazy a person I am, and the fact that I am not a great fan of running. Infact I get bored in as easy as 20 mins. But I have decided to run for this cause and it is an amazing feeling!! Every time I slow down or think I am bored, I dont have to think about any thing but the cause and it keeps me going.
I have run 8.5 miles max so far and I will finish!!
If you wish to contribute to help me reach my goal; please do so in what ever way you can!!
Cheers;
-Ravi!!
~ Keep smiling
About running with Asha
Asha for Education is an action group with a primary focus on basic education in India. The broader mission is to catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children. The objectives of this group in India are:
- To provide access to education for underprivileged children in India
- To promote universal education and decrease child labor
- To support grass roots initiatives in deprived and marginalized communities in India
- To address, whenever possible, other issues affecting human life such as health care, environmental and socio-economic issues, women’s issues, human rights issues, etc.
The objectives of this group in the United States are:
- Raise resources & awareness
- Encourage volunteer learning & leadership
- Provide opportunities to contribute to socio-economic change in India
In line with the objectives above, the Chicago Chapter of Asha for Education currently supports 8 projects : Aralu Pre-primary centers, Aralu Belaku residential home, Gramya, Navjyoti, Asmita, Swadhar, Jyotirgamaya and a fellowship to a grassroot healthcare activist Manish.
As a Team Asha runner, I endeavor to raise funds towards supporting these projects and making a difference in the lives of approximately 1000 children and their community.
Help Me Reach My Goal!
Please click the donate button to pay by credit card.
Alternatively, mail cheques payable to: “Asha for Education” with “
Team Asha 2011 - Ravi Turlapati” printed in the memo to:
Asha for Education, Chicago Chapter
P.O Box 2283
Chicago, IL 60690-2283
Donations to Asha for Education are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Tax Code
