Date:10/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/10/stories/2006121007270500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Walkathon with a difference

Staff Reporter

It was organised to commemorate World Disabled Day

NOBLE CAUSE: Children participate in the `The Great Walk-a-Thon' organised at Shree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: It was a walkathon of a different kind. Lions Club International and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled organised "The Great Walk-a-Thon" to commemorate the World Disabled Day here on Saturday.

Around 6,000 people participated in the four-kilometre walk-a-thon that was flagged off from Kanteerava Stadium. It was inaugurated by Commissioner of Police Neelam Achutha Rao.

"This is a day that reminds us of our duty towards the disabled. Apart from expressing solidarity, this event should create awareness about the conditions of the disabled. We have to remember that none of us are perfect and that we all are one. We all should ensure that the disabled get their basic rights," he said.

The second edition of "The Great Walk-a-Thon" brought together around 500 children from 24 government schools, the disabled, children from the economically weaker sections and celebrities.

Awareness

"This event will create awareness about the basic rights and employment opportunities that the disabled are deprived of. The Disability Act was introduced in 1995, but no one wants to implement it. Just give us a chance and we will prove who we are," said Paul Muddha, visually challenged and a trustee of Samarthanam Trust.

Kannada actors Chandrashekar and Vishal Hegde participated in the walk. that was followed by a cultural programme and sports meet conducted by visually challenged children.

The participants were treated with a music performance by Sangam, a rock band from Infosys who sang to the numbers of A.R. Rehman's "Vande Mataram," Himesh Reshmiyaa's "Ashiq banaya" and "Ru ba ru" from Rang De Basanti. There was also an exhibition-cum-sale of 18 paintings and sketches by a physically challenged B. Thyagaraj .

The proceeds of the walk will go to projects of the Samarthanam Trust and they will be used to educate visually challenged children in the trust.