RCB Joins Hands With RC of the Nilgiris’ to Support Rotary’s ‘End Polio Mission’ with ‘Endurothon Gateway Challenge’
Under the dynamic leadership of President Dr. Sonya Mehta and the keen efforts of Committee heads and all our Rotarians who keep the flame of true service aglow, RCB is pleased to team up with the RC of the Nilgiris (RCN) in support of the ‘End Polio Mission’ via the exciting ‘Endurothon Gateway Challenge’, which will take place on Thursday, 25th February, 2016, at 4:30 pm, at the Gateway of India, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai. Our Honorary Rotarian, Mrs. Rajashree Birla, has consented to be Chief Guest and will flag off the event. PRID Rtn. Ashok Mahajan will be the Guest of Honour. Mrs. Birla is one of the biggest supporters of TRF (having donated close to US$ 10 million, making her the second largest individual donor to the TRF Worldwide).
Established in 1941, the RCN has come a long way since, and is more recently recognized for founding the remarkable ‘Swarga Bhoomi’ facility in Wellington in 2007 – a non-profit facility for the welfare of the local people. Other significant projects undertaken include Education for underprivileged children; Health Camps and sanitation and hygiene programs in schools; Eye and Dental camps for all; Rainwater harvesting; Adoption of the pre-natal ward of the local general hospital; Support on multiple levels – for a Private Old Age Home; for UDHAVI (school for special children) and for Transcultural Mission – a vocational training center-cumcrèche for poor women; and a strong focus towards Polio Immunization on National Immunization Days and Polio Awareness programs. It is with the latter in focus – Rotary’s Mission to End Polio – that the RCN is associating with the much talked about, upcoming ‘Endurothon Gateway Challenge’, with kind support from Wing Cdr. Param Vir Singh.
The ‘Endurothon Gateway Challenge’ is an ultra-distance triathlon, starting and culminating at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The Challenge would start with a swim of 70 kms, followed by a bike ride of 400 kms, and end with a 165 kms-long run. Covering a minimum distance of 635 kms, the Endurothon Gateway Challenge would be the longest, toughest and the most challenging of all triathlons in the world, relentlessly testing an athlete’s endurance, resolve and character at all levels!
In October 2015, Wg. Cdr. Param Vir Singh, a connoisseur in extreme sports, undertook to swim the river Ganga from Devprayag in Uttarakhand to Gangasagar in West Bengal (2800 Kms), supporting RCN’s cause ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. He has consented to once again support a Rotary Mission, this time related to ending Polio. President Rtn. Vijaya Dar, RCN (Coonoor), along with Wg. Cdr Param Vir, will grace our Club’s weekly meeting at the Taj on Tuesday, the 23rd of February, where they would be looking to interact with our members, with the Wing Commander himself explaining the exciting nature of the event, and overall, providing a wider view of the activities and participation related to this event, in association with RCB. The RCN has already ordered 300 T-shirts boldly displaying Rotary’s ‘End Polio’ message, amongst other publicity avenues, which will be shared in detail during their address to the Club. RCB looks forward to its members putting in a good attendance on the 23rd of February, and hopes to encourage maximum participation from our Rotarians for this joint project with the RCN. Members may kindly note that Attendance Credit will be given to all attending the event.