WILL YOU SUPPORT MY PLEDGE

TO

RAISE RUPEES FIVE LAKHS

FOR THE CAUSE OF

THE ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY, BANGALORE

THROUGH MY PARTICIPATION IN THE WHEELCHAIR EVENTOF

THE MUMBAI MARATHON ON 16TH JANUARY 2011?

The excitement about the forthcoming Mumbai marathon on 16 th January 2011 at Azad Maidan, CST, is building up, and I don’t want to be left out - even though I can only limp around now on my arthritic legs. So here am I, enrolled as one of the senior most participants in the wheel chair event, in my fourth marathon and my first ever in Mumbai.

I had my first experience of this kind of event at Bangalore in 2008 and have regularly participated since, when I had to be up and ready for our race which started at 7 a.m. We were about two dozen under the banner of The Association of People With Disability, lined up in our wheel chairs for the 4 k.m. race starting from Kanteerava Stadium. We were ‘wheeling’ for APD’s cause – one of the beneficiary organisations of the charity event.

-contd.-

MUMBAI MARATHON, HERE I COME – ‘RUNNING’ IN A WHEELCHAIR!

By Jacqueline Colaco

Some of us were self propelled, others like me had a pusher. I had run many a race at this venue during my student days, never dreaming I’d be back forty odd years later in a run of a ‘different’ kind ‘ and FOR A CAUSE!. I was here not only to raise pledges, but also to make a statement that disability need not stop you from ‘running’ to achieve your purpose in life.

Well back to the race. My enthusiastic young volunteer pusher (escort) and I were all set to go! And when we did, both of us realized what novices we were at the game… While our co-participants zoomed away, we went zig-zagging all over the place. My encounters with wheelchairs thus far had been limited to post operative trips down smooth hospital corridors, gently manoueverd by expert attenders.

My pusher was probably a first timer too, and therefore for me and for him, this ‘hard to control’ adventure began fairly traumatically. I had no intention of going flying out of the wheel chair (no seat belt here) through an accidental bump into a sidewalk. It was initially difficult though to convince my companion that I was not here to win the race, but only to show my spirit for the game. My message did get through in a short while thank goodness, and thereafter the ride was slow, smooth and enjoyable. We had the road to ourselves as we wheeled along some decent ones, both these experiences rare in today’s Bangalore.

MUMBAI MARATHON, HERE I COME – ‘RUNNING’ IN A WHEELCHAIR!

-contd.-

MUMBAI MARATHON, HERE I COME – ‘RUNNING’ IN A WHEELCHAIR!

The early morning walkers cheered us along our way, as I distributed to them my poem ‘Beatitudes of the Disabled’. I also gave my message to TV crews about the need for more awareness among our people that the disabled can be more productive in society’s mainstream. This can be made possible, I told them, if basic and better facilities of infrastructure like ramp access to buildings and disabled friendly roads and transport are provided. My message was well received and I hope is bearing some fruit.

After the event, with much gratitude to my by now panting pusher, I came away a tired but happy ‘last to finish’, having fulfilled my mission of spreading the vision of this wonderful organization The Association of People With Disability, located at 6th Cross

Hutchins Road, Lingarapuram, Bangalore. As I head to Mumbai for the marathon, I have the honour of my eldest sister’s

grandson Nishadh Rego being my escort, and Muriel and Arthur’s family as part of APD’s local support team there.

Check the APD website: www.apd-india.org and you will feel impelled to support this organization as I am. And then, make your pledge to contribute to its various activities by cheque issued in favour of THE ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY, BANGALORE or through the online payment channel as below:

WIRE TRANSFER DETAILS ( Foreign Contribution made outside India)

Organization Name The Association of People with Disability

Street Address 6th Cross, , Lingarajapuram, Post, – 560 084.

Contact Name V.S.Basavaraju - Director

Contact Phone (91) (80) 25475165

Bank Name State Bank of India

Bank Street Address Richards Town Branch, Frazer Town, – 560 005

SWIFT/BIB/Bank Code SBININBBA169 – Bangalore Branch 0813. Bank Code: 2263

Name on Account The Association of People with Disability

Account No 10448471579

WIRE TRANSFER DETAILS ( Foreign Contribution made while in India)

Organization Name The Association of People with Disability

Street Address 6th Cross, , Lingarajapuram, Post, – 560 084.

Contact Name V.S.Basavaraju – Director

Contact Phone (91) (80) 25475165

Bank Name State Bank of India

Bank Street Address Richards Town Branch, Frazer Town, – 560 005

SWIFT/BIB/Bank Code SBIN0002263 – Bangalore Branch 0813. Bank Code: 2263

Name on Account The Association of People with Disability

Account No 10448471579

WIRE TRANSFER DETAILS (Local Transfers)

Organization Name The Association of People with Disability

Street Address 6th Cross, , Lingarajapuram, Post, – 560 084.

Contact Name V.S.Basavaraju – Director

Contact Phone (91) (80) 25475165 / 861

Bank Name State Bank of India

Bank Street Address Richards Town Branch, Frazer Town, – 560 005

SWIFT/BIB/Bank Code SBIN0002263 – Bangalore Branch 0813. Bank Code: 2263

Name on Account The Association of People with Disability

Account No 10448471647

BEATITUDES OF THE DISABLED

Blessed are they with a cheery smileWho stopped to chat for a little whileBlessed are they who see in meA person of WORTH & ABILITY(adapted from Beatitudes of the Aged) –

By JACQUELINE COLACO email:jaclyncol@gmail.com FOUNDER AND HON. MANAGING TRUSTEE - ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION (INDIA)

HON. MEMBER – ACTION ON DISABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT (INDIA)HON. TRUSTEE AND TREASURER, THE ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

“THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR”