London Marathons for a good cause in Assam

Inspired by their 2014 targets, two dads are running their first marathons for"Little Helping Hands" a charity formed by their children.  Born & raised in Assam, India, Londoners -Vikram Das and Wasim Haque are on their second year of fundraising for the land that is so close to their heart. 

 
Wasim & Vikram

Vikram has successfully completed the Manchester Marathon on the 19th of April 2015.  Wasim Haque is running the London Marathon on 26th of April 2015 & the Lake District ULTIMATE 55km Marathon in June 2015.  So far, together, they have raised £1500 ($2400 or Rs.1,48,000) for Sishu Kalyan Sadan, an orphanage based in Guwahati, Assam, India.

UK based charity Just For Assam is proud to support them for their cause and would be delighted if you could join us in our fundraising journey and help us reach our target of an extra £1000.  Every penny helps.

To support our fundraising do visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/justforassam 

Just to give you an idea about what your contribution would benefit the girls at the 

• £20 (Rs.2000) would buy one meal for all 13 girls.
• £30 would buy basic school books per student for a year.
• £40 would buy all of them a full day's meal.
• £50 would buy them shoes.
• £100 would buy all of living expenses (expect food) for a month.

Together we can. It is one of the ways to tell the girls in the orphanage that they are not alone in thinking - One for all, All for one. We thank you for supporting us

For Donation visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/justforassam 

Watch his video here

About the Orphanage: A brief write up by fundraiser, Vikram Das:

Srimoti Devi gaurds her little girls like any mother would do. Stern with words, careful with emotions, economical with the truth and patient with progress. She paces around the large open grounds, hands folded behind her hunched back, quick and brittle in her steps and eyes darting from one child to another. You will see this at most times of the day when the harsh summer sun has not got the better of her, or even then.  Srimoti Devi is not any ordinary mother though – she is the God mother of these dozen or so girls, 5 to 15 years old, who call this orphanage, Sishu Sadan, their home. Unlike most of us who barely have time to think beyond ourselves and our myopic existence , she has been supporting these vulnerable young girls over the last 4 decades, cherishing in providing them security and a sense of hope.

Sishu Sadan (Children's Home) is located in Jalukbari, Guwahati, the Gateway city to North East India. In the years gone by this little Eden of promise has grown from a single hall to a large compounded area, with generous donors building the orphanage up bit by resourceful bit. The inspiration has come from well-meaning members of society. Professors of nearby Guwahati University to the Prime Minister of India to the wealthiest businessmen in the sprawling metropolis of Guwahati.    Living with the orphan girls, Srimoti Devi is for me a beacon of hope in a world which is confused about its priorities. She expects nothing in return, but maybe that’s because she knows none of us can give her anything above the fulfilment of a lifetime's work with tender orphan girls through their uncertain years, supporting them through basic primary education and making sure they have a bed to sleep and a roof over their heads.

If and when you meet her you will realize she is illiterate. But her passion to realize her goal does not need education. It is one of those things that make us human- our insight, our conscience and our moral dilemmas. Except, unlike most of us, she did not choose to turn a blind eye and walk away.  In her younger days, she has begged on the streets for the girls, going house to house for a bowl of rice to ensure the orphans have a meal a day. Today she is frail and dependent on people like you to support her girls and her dream. She will inspire you to go on this proud journey with her, should you open your mind to the possibilities she sees in her little girls.