Date:23/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/23/stories/2005122317460200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

On roller skates, from Mumbai

Special Correspondent

It took him five weeks to reach Bangalore

Bangalore: It took him five weeks, but 21-year-old Prakash Funda of Mumbai has made it to Bangalore, roller-skating all the way. Mr. Funda told presspersons here on Thursday that he skates at least 12 hours a day and adds more time on the roads if the weather and light are good. He takes only a few breaks and prefers to rest at night when heavy vehicle traffic makes the highways unsafe for skating.

"I will go to Chennai next and then to Kolkata, all through the region in between. If I can I'd like to skate around the world," he said. The long journey from Mumbai began on November 14 when he was flagged off by Maharashtra Director-General of Police P.S. Pasricha. By the time he traverses all of India, he would have clocked 35,586 km on skates.

Mr. Prakash had a traumatic childhood and the red light district of Mumbai was his home.

During the two-day halt here, Mr. Prakash has interacted with a number of school and college students with the help of Steve's Gym and Robin Paul of Sports Outreach India, both organisations that help young persons in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Prakash himself has a mission to fulfil: as he skates he wants to caution young children about sexual abuse and the older ones about the risks of HIV/AIDS. Although he has not competed in any major competitive skating event, Mr. Prakash says he is ready to compete at the international level.