A Cycle Rally was organized on June 11th celebrating Environment Day 2018 in Alwal. The GO2CO2 Cycling Club's efforts lead to a successful rally with 70+ cyclists who showed up in support of the cause. 70 might seem a small number, but in Alwal, for a cause like this, it IS huge! It is a beginning, and i am sure will turn into a powerful group. Alwal is hopeful now.
On June 7th, I was approached for support informing me that the promised CSR support backed out last minute. I just knew i had to help in whatever way, as Alwal needed this. I was confident i would find friends willing to support this and not just for the cliched (usually favorite ones on education) fundraisers. I put up a facebook post that night and by next afternoon, I had raised sufficient funds.
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| Rally gathering |
I received a text saying "5000/- is too much just for caps and it isn't even a sustainable activity and that there is so much we can do for the environment without organizing rallies"
This is not just discouraging for people like Boga Vishnumurthy garu, who has gone out of his way to do something; it is also problematic at other levels. Who decides what is too much? Last year in Nalgonda, we spent Rs.50,000/- just on caps and nobody blinked an eye because it had big names attached to it. Who decides what 'should' be done? And who can organize what? Why is a fundraiser always met with criticism/cynicism/skepticism first? I'll tell why, because it is easy. Simple. It is very easy to sit down and question a person raising funds and give unsolicited advice simply because of the power equations. This sense of ownership that i am the giver, so obviously, i know better!
I faced this a lot during my MAD (Make A Difference) days, lot less now. And i always wanted to tell this out. And amidst all the entitled probes and suggestions, I've ALWAYS found supportive friends. Friends who believed in me, or my cause or what i was advocating for. And trust me, that goes a long way!
So, for this charity, i found some incredible friends who came forward in support without a single free advice but a lot of encouragement! And for that, I am grateful and forever indebted!
Thank you so much
1. Sasi Rekha Pulipaka for 10 Caps
2. Nevin Thomas for 20 Caps
3. Tulasi Signamoni for 30 Caps
4. Achal Singh for 10 Caps
5. Pippala Karthik for 30 Caps
Happiness has a rippling effect and through this fundraiser it has reached more people. You guys might not realize the extent of it, but I did. Yesterday when Boga garu called and briefed me about the event with glee, I was happy to make all you guys a part of it.
Thank you for being!
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