Guwahati, April 30: In a star-studded London marathon on Sunday, an Assamese based there ran the 42km for a special cause: To raise funds for orphans back here.
Another London-based Assamese completed the Manchester Marathon, also in UK, on April 19 with the same purpose.
Appeals by Wasim Haque and Vikram Das in the two elite marathons generated Rs 1.6 lakh, the entire amount of which will go to Sishu Kalyan Sadan, an orphanage at Jalukbari here which houses 29 girls and two boys.
Wasim, 43, hails from Dibrugarh in Upper Assam while Vikram is originally from Guwahati.
Wasim, who completed his engineering from NIT Kurukshetra, moved to UK in 2003 and now works with IBM in London, completed the distance in a little over four-and-a-half hours.
"I had two purposes in mind. First, to prove to myself that I can run 42km as I was very unfit six years ago and could barely run for a minute. Secondly, I want to do something for my native place and for the orphans there. It really feels great to see people's generous response to our joint appeal," Wasim told The Telegraph.
"My wife Jafrina Yesmin is also taking part in some half marathons and will run in another on October 4 to raise funds for cancer research," he added.
The campaign, Little Helping Hands, for less privileged children in Assam was started by Vikram's elder daughter Anushka, a student of Class IX, and her school friends last year. They raised Rs 55,000, which was donated to Sishu Kalyan Sadan. The funds were used to renovate the orphanage. Inspired by the kids, Wasim and Vikram decided to contribute too.
"The initiative by Vikram's daughter inspired us and we decided to take part in the two elite marathons with the same purpose," Wasim said.
Manchester Marathon (1908) and London Marathon (1981) are the two elite marathons in the world at present. Over 37,000 people, including many celebrities - from supermodel Christy T. Burns, Formula 1 racer Jenson Button, world record holder marathon racer Paula Radcliffe to British actor Jonathan Bailey - took part in this year's London Marathon.
Sishu Kalyan Sadan, which was established in 1956, not only provides shelter and education to orphans and destitute children but also helps them to get vocational training.
"Many girls and boys at the orphanage have got good jobs. Many girls were married off after their education and their families now visit us. It gives me immense pleasure when these children introduce me as their mother," said Kabita Deka of Sishu Kalyan Sadan. "Three children of our home are studying in colleges while one girl is doing a nursing course," she said.
Accountant of the home, H.K. Patowary, was all praise for the initiative. "We did some renovation with the money Vikram Das's organisation donated to us last year. This year we require at least Rs 5 lakh for extension of the boys' hostel and other work. We hope to start the work with the amount they are donating to us this time," he added.
