BANGALORE: This Sunday, if you go for a morning walk at Cubbon Park, you might get to walk alongside former cricketers Javagal Srinath and Vijay Bhardwaj and help raise funds for charity too.
The annual event is organised by The Community Service of Bangalore (CSB), comprising about 100 housewives who meet on a weekly-basis at Indiranagar Rotary Club.
The 16-year-old non-profit group currently hosts fundraisers throughout the year for 13 charitable organisations in the city, from schools for the visually challenged to hospices.
"This walk is for good health and to raise funds. Right now, we provide financial aid, in the small ways that we can, by giving money or giving these organisations commodities they need. This year, so far, we've given a blind school a scanner. Apart from the walkathon, we also make handicraft products that we sell at our bazaar, the proceeds of which goes for charity," says CSB president Indra Girdhar.
While, she adds, the housewives network doesn't plan to take any other organisations under its fold as of now, it doesn't rule out the possibility entirely. "If someone approaches us, and they seem genuine — we visit these places to ensure that — why not?" she says.
The organisations that CSB (founded in 1998 by US resident Mae Barr) has ties with include Agape Children Centre, Sri Acharya Rakum School for the Blind, Ashwini Charitable Trust, Association for the Mentally Challenged, Association for People with Disability, Divine Light Trust for the Blind, Mahila Dakshata Samiti, Makkala Jeevodaya, Prerana Resource Centre, Swanthana, Samwad Institute of Speech and Hearing and Samiksha Foundation.
"We'll have a representation of the children we provide aid to as well. Buses have been organised for them to join us at the event," adds the president.
The walkathon will start off from Cubbon Park (KSLTA Tennis Club) at 7.30 am on August 3. For details, call Indra Girdhar on 9341232104 or email her at indragirdhar28@yahoo.com