Community Walk Hosted by BAPS Charities at Sugar Land Town Center

Commissioner Grady Prestage inspires the walkers

Commissioner Grady Prestage inspires the walkers

SUGAR LAND: At the age of 92, Kanu Patel or lovingly known as Kanudada completed the BAPS Charities 15th annual walkathon on Sunday, June 8, at the Sugarland Town Center. After the walk Kanudada smiles and says, “my inspiration were the young ones that are here on a Sunday and it’s such a great feeling to see them raise awareness for great beneficiaries, ADA (American Diabetes Association) and Stafford MSD (Stafford Municipal School District Education Foundation).”

Over 900 walkers of all ages at the BAPS Charities walk

Over 900 walkers of all ages at the BAPS Charities walk

By 9:00 am a crowd of 900 participants ranging from young children at the age of 2 to seniors at the age of 92 were ready to kick off the walkathon. The walk was launched with a prayer for world peace followed by inspiring words from the Commissioner of Precinct 2 of Fort Bend County, Grady Prestage. Commissioner Prestage said with excitement that, “15 years of this BAPS walk is amazing and I look forward to another 15 years.”

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As part of the walk this year a special run was set for those who chose to run the route. Although Kanudada did not participate in the special 5k run, he smiled as the runners sprinted passed him. With amazement a wheel chaired bound individual, Justin Scott won first place in this year’s 5k run. Second place winner Hinal Patel was amazed, “I can’t believe how fast he was with the wheel chair, if that is not an inspiration that I don’t know what can be.”
Along with Kanudada, volunteers of BAPS Charities brought sponsors like Piping Technology & Products, SDB group, Forge USA, 4th Dimension, Akshar/Shriji Properties, Pref Tech, Genetec, Minute Maid, Sam’s Club, Bharat Patel and many others to contribute to this year’s walkathon. Narayan Bhargava of SDB group commented, “We are proud to be a sponsor for all the good things that BAPS continues to do.”
BAPS Charities undertakes many such charitable events throughout the year to support local communities.  BAPS Charities’ projects are inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s motto, “In the joy of others, lies our own”. Through this motto, Pramukh Swami Maharaj selflessly serves society through a variety of social projects and inspires thousands of others to do the same. In addition to the 40 such annual walkathons hosted across North America this year, BAPS Charities hosts a variety of programs to support healthy living, environmental awareness and education initiatives around the world. BAPS Charities sincerely serves the community, by improving the quality of life of individuals and families.
For further information on BAPS Charities and its international and local philanthropic activities, visit www.bapscharities.org