NRI PULSE NEWS DESK

Last August, the 4th Annual India Run for Hope conducted in Atlanta generated over $20,000 for the India Cancer Initiative, bearing testimony to the Indian community’s commitment to help fight the cancer crisis In India. The American Cancer Society’s India Cancer Initiative helps conquer cancer in India by enabling early detection, spreading awareness about treatment options, providing services to stop tobacco consumption, ensuring implementation of the Tobacco Control Act and improving life of cancer patients. This year, the India Run continues to take action against the growing cancer crisis as it supports the initiative with larger fundraising goals and plans to expand to more cities.

Carrying the baton this year are Uma Patel, event coordinator, and assistant coordinators Priya Patel and Bhavdip Javia. This year’s efforts began with a general board meeting on February 28 where over 40 students from colleges in the metro-Atlanta area gathered to develop new and innovative strategies for the 2010 event. The focus this year is to ensure that the volunteers have a personally rewarding experience while planning a family-oriented event to spread awareness and raise funds for the India Cancer Initiative. Patel believes this “work hard, play harder” approach is what will maximize the India Run’s potential to make a difference. Keeping this aim in mind, the volunteers have successfully organized events like date auctions, Hope parties and car washes.

Atlanta is not the only place coordinating efforts for this year’s run. Alpha Iota Omicron, the fraternity that founded the India Run in 2006, will also conduct the run at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 

Bharat Kusuma, former president of the chapter adds, "Our brothers in Atlanta have brought to light a very real problem that we have the very real power to affect, in a way that wouldn't have been feasible without the efforts of the India Run. We look forward to bringing this run to our city." The Atlanta members of Sigma Sigma Rho, a South Asian based sorority, have also supported the India Run since its inception. The organization now plans to extend the event to its new establishment at Florida State University
The teams this year are full of dedication and enthusiasm to ensure the success of the growing movement. 

Jacob David, event founder and chairman, makes the group’s resolve clear. “Grassroots-level events like the India Run for Hope have the potential to make change in the community at large; we are determined to use the run as a means to take action by spreading awareness and giving hope to those dealing with the cancer crisis in both India and the US.”

The India Run for Hope will be held at the Georgia Tech Campus on August 28, 2010. You can find more information about the run on www.indiarun.org