Testimonial

Dream Team
I Pledge

Keep Falling - Don't Hit the Road - Keep Falling !

That's just my style of running. And it's inspired from Chi Running.

India would be a better place if we shared some of our fabled warmth and care beyond our immediate loved ones. India's bane is a society where we limit our concern to our hearth, family and friends, with almost total disregard to the man in the street. Or to the street, or to the community at large.

The ADHM is a tremendous community outreach opportunity. Ordinary Indians can do extraordinary things for other Indians in greater need. There is the chance, in a growing way, to change the way some hearts beat. We can contribute. And so easily !

I strongly encourage and others to join in. I face a dual challenge. At 55, and in my sixth Delhi Half Marathon, my bigger hurdle is to run 21.1 kms. It's possible only because I see a bigger picture and some more smiling faces around me.

I have used ADHM to contribute to the education of underpriveleged children in the Delhi NCR. One can choose, through Concern India, from a vast array of causes close to one’s heart.

Success !

Dwaraka Pandurangi
Volunteer, Vidya Sagar

Till I participated in ADHM in 2008 for the first time, to see how it works for raising funds, I had no idea it was such an amazing platform for raising funds. Apart from the fact that it is just pure fun to run – pushing yourself a little more everyday and thereby doing a world of good for your health, Delhi Half Marathon gets the most unlikely people into the habit of at least walking regularly, if not jogging.

Regular donors have been there, always, but the ADHM gives a sense of time, occasion and event for giving – and, since there’s an online payment gateway made, people can donate effortlessly. And, it is so easy for friends and relatives to forward our appeal to their contacts – I’m overwhelmed with the way people are going out of their way to contribute and to solicit contributions for Vidya Sagar, which works with over 3,000 persons with cerebral palsy in any given year. Since funds are channelized through a reputed third party (Concern India Foundation), strangers have contributed generously without knowing me or Vidya Sagar closely.

Procam deserves accolades for organizing events such as ADHM and making it possible for NGOs to raise funds and for socially conscious people to contribute effortlessly. ADHM is a wonderful opportunity for corporate houses to give a fun event for their employees, as also the privilege of helping a good cause, while fulfilling their own CSR and getting ample visibility too!

Concern India Foundation and Procam deserve more accolades for giving prizes in recognition of pledge-raisers’ efforts and for the elegant awards function they organize. Friends helping me raise funds have actually run that extra mile to make me get prizes – my target has become theirs and making me get that prize becomes important for them!

Everyone at Concern India Foundation deserve lots of praise for their patience in dealing with thousands of demanding participants like me –the way they egged me on into raising the highest amount is unbelievable! They make you feel important and want to do more!

As ADHM becomes more and more popular, it is bound to become very attractive for corporate houses to advertise and as the size of funds raised for charity goes up, I am sure NGO’s will also get attractive cash-prizes like the athletes do.

I’ve persuaded many NGO’s to participate in and take advantage of the opportunity offered by ADHM. I think that ADHM and the Mumbai marathon will eventually become the biggest fundraisers for NGO’s in the years to come.

Preet Dhupar
Director Finance and Operations, BBC India

I have run in the Delhi Half Marathon as a dream runner for 5 years in a row since 2006. Each year has been an enriching experience. The pleasure is twice over – the joy of running along with the feeling that I’ve managed to make some contribution to society. I run for CHILDLINE – which is 24 hour helpline for children in distress. Children have always had the ability to tug at my heartstrings and the least I can do is try and put a smile on someone’s face. There can be many ways of helping those that are less fortunate and I feel the more avenues we can contribute to – the better. It did take me some time to overcome the hesitation of asking people to contribute, but once you get going it’s not that tough. I have sometimes been overwhelmed by how quickly some one responds to the request and the amounts people are willing to give. There is no dearth of generosity in this world.

Marathons are recognised the world over as fund raisers. It is good to see that Delhi is adapting to a philanthropic culture. There is a vast difference in awareness levels over the years – each year the number of participants and dream runner is increasing and the value of contributions go up. Besides fundraising the other objective that a marathon achieves is awareness of social issues. So keep going folks. May each year be more successful than the last.

I have been associated with Sukarya for a long time. I have been working on fund raising for Sukarya for many years and also fund raising through the Delhi Half Marathon for the last five years. It was only this year that I thought of running the marathon myself as an IPledger and raising some money through the marathon.

I tried to encourage my close friends, colleagues and family to donate a small amount towards a cause - I realize that a small donation can make a huge difference and help Sukarya to provide quality health care and to Reach the Un-Reached and to Serve the Under-Served.

My experience says that proper information about the NGO you are fund raising for helps as you can easily convince the person you are talking to if you have proper and correct information. Don't hesitate while asking for contributions/pledges from others because you are not doing it for yourself. Try to explain to people that even small pledges can seriously change someone's life. Many small amounts add up to a big sum which can do wonders for someone in need.

When you actually start fund raising, you realize that it takes a little effort to make a difference. But, it’s absolutely worth it! You are actually doing this for someone less privileged than yourself. The satisfaction you achieve whilst doing this cannot be achieved by anything else.

I live by the saying, 'Where there is a will, there is a way' If you want to make the difference, just go for it…. Don't wait for someone to inspire you, be someone's inspiration, instead!

A Big Thank You to all who supported me with their kind generosity

		S.L.Ganapathi Airtel Delhi Half Marathon has been an event which has brought people from all walks of life together to challenge themselves physically and more so to run for causes. Delhi’s city’s collective conscience is raised during ADHM by Concern India in encouraging citizens to contribute for the social sector. Ever since the Airtel half marathon has started I have tried not to miss even one and also have encouraged my colleagues from Logistics Plus India Ltd to run. We together support the cause of Astha India NGO working in the field of disability in very backward areas of our city. It was a pleasant surprise for me to get to know that I was one of the award winners in I-Pledge category and this award gives me even more encouragement to participate , raise funds for causes and get more people to both run and contribute to causes in the years to come. Come one and Come all and run for the good of the people on 27th November 2011