This Walkathon Will Heal Many People for Months!
The Boards of the IACF and IDCC , volunteers and Sugar Land Mayor hopeful Harish Jajoo pose at the ribbon cutting to mark the start of the IACF Walkathon at Lost Creek Park in Sugar Land
By Jawahar Malhotra
SUGAR LAND: If it had been held the previous weekend, the walkathon could have been a wash because of the heavy rains that deluged the city and flooded many areas. The organizers heaved a sigh of relief as the skies turned a marvelous blue and sunshine warmed the people who had gathered in Lost Creek Park this past Saturday, April 23 for an early morning 5K I Walk, I Care walkathon, organized after a two year absence, by the Indo American Charity Clinic.
The walkathon was a joint promotion with the Indian Doctors Charity Clinic so that others could show their support for two organizations which have been helping the needy in the Metroplex for the past three decades, instead of spending lavishly of programs that help the downtrodden in India. Over 250 people attended the event, and 160 of them – from 7 to 70 years-old – walked the trail in the park after a breakfast of hot South Indian food and fruits.
IDCC Foundeing member Dr. Sunita Moonat (right) with the clinic’s first patient, Bhagwati Parekh who came for cancer treatment after moving here from California
There were medical booths set up for free checkups for hypertension and diabetes, courtesy of Southside Pharmacy and Kelsey Seybold Clinics. Each of the participants received t-shirts, an award of completion and congratulations from Nanda Vura, President of IACF; Dr. Subodh Chauhan, President of the Indian Doctors Association which has supported the IDCC since its inception and Dr. K.T. Shah who had played a vital in providing medical care at the clinic for many years until last year.
Now confined to a wheelchair, the still active Dr. Shah did the ribbon cutting for the walkathon which was also attended by Sugar Land Mayoral candidate Harish Jajoo who addressed the crowd before the starting gun. Dr. Ashok Jain was the first to finish the walk and got a chance to share his experience, and the others trickled in over the next 30 minutes. All told, the Walkathon netted $25,000, a check for which was presented to the IDCC.
Check Presentation
IACF President Vura was extremely pleased with the event, noting that it allowed the two organizations to partner up to raise awareness and funds and expected more such liaisons to form the IACF’s future efforts. Dr. Shah likewise was happy that the event allowed the IDCC to continue to provide free of charge care to those who cannot afford private medical treatment.