We too ran for Right to Education

A 5.7 km run was a competition for professionals, for others it was fun, for few others it was an experience but for CRTians it was beyond all these because it gave us a areana to spread a strong message on Child rights.

Before the Run

After the backend preparations and work outs it was an exciting morning for CRT and supporters, most of whom were first time and enthusiastic runners/ walkers at TCS world 10k Marathon ogranised by Bangalore Cares on 18th may 2014.

This time before the run we took part in Kingfisher Bombat Brigade, a costume show organised by Bangalore Cares. In a 3 minutes skit we communicated the message 'Say no to Child Marriage and Yes to Education' with the help of our supporters who were with us till the completion of the Run. 

Our Care Champion- Ms. Nina Nayak

With the Big Thali (Mangala Suthra)

The big Thali, (Mangala Suthra, which we carried throughout the run), a prop which was used in the Skit to indicate as burden to a young child caught the attention of every runner and many camera's too!!.

After participating in costume show we began a 5.7km Majja run with our Gold care Champion Ms. Nina P Nayak and 30+ supporters from Kanteerava Stadium. The huge Thali, plackarts stressing education,anti child marriage and anti child labour phrases and shouting slogans against child marriage, child labour and education were the means used by us to spread the message. Through out the run enthusiasm of runners had never gone dry neither in voice(while shouting the slogans)nor in spirit.

Our Message

Even though we intended to make minimum of 100 runners as part of the Majja run on behalf of CRT we were successful in enrolling 60 individuals. Even though we were lagging behind the intended number this time we were successful in reaching more number of people than the previous run which was held in 2010.

Under this umbrella we also raised funds for Right to education. Combined team efforts from CRTians and few volunteers we reached our target of Rs. 5,00,000 which will be utilised for the Right to Education activities.

Tired runners- after completion of the Run 

Sunfeast Run and CRT-2010

CRT participated for the first time in the Sunfeast Run on May 23, 2010 and the experience was exhilarating to say the least.

Some of the runners before the start of the Sunfeast run (From L to R: Ms. Lakshmi, Dr. Padmini, Mr. Vasudeva Sharma, Mr. Vasanth from SICHREM, Mr. Nagasimha. G. Rao, Ms. Rashmi, Ms. Nina Nayak, Mr Srinivas from SICHREM)

While we were amongst the smaller groups running (20 of us), the enthusiasm levels were extremely high. 2 CRT members ran the 10K while the rest participated in the 5.7K.

CRT team members at the starting line

CRT was running to raise money for a program to help children affected by the North Karnataka Floods that hit in late 2009. Details on this can be found here.

The fundraising attempts before the run in itself proved to be quite a novel experience. From going office to office in our building (it is amazing how people work in the same building and never know who works next door) to a student mobilising money for us at a US university campus to a man at a photocopy center instantly donating Rs. 50 listening to our story.. the responses and reactions were truly heartwarming.

Mr. Nagaraj of CRT was quite the showstopper with his enthusiasm and endearing personality. Even the cop joined us in some of the fun!

The preparations for the actual run/walk in the process were sidelined with conversations leading up to the day being about whether we will survive the run/walk and if the weather gods will be on our side (Both of which went our way finally!).

The only time they attempted to run was when the camera was on them:)

The energy and excitement at the event drew us all in and seeing the innovative ways in which various social messages were shared using the platform gave all of us ideas for the next time.

CRT team members towards the end of the walk ( looking more tired than they would like to admit!)

We finally raised Rs. 35,000 through this run. While the amount hardly matches the lakhs that many other NGOs raise through the event and the team running was small, it gave us a glimpse into the possibilities this event holds. Everyone was brimming with ideas about how to organise ourselves better next time and all that we can do differently.

Mr. Nagasimha. G. Rao, Associate Director, CRT embracing the spirit of the run

So the day ended with a lot of fun, meeting many of our NGO colleagues along the way, a sense of satisfaction at having done our bits for a cause we work for everyday and a resolve to leave a bigger mark the next time around.