Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting my Santa Run sponsorship page.
I am doing the 5K run in support of the charity I work for, Vital Regeneration, the charity I have worked for since graduating from INSEAD.
I have been very fortunate that life has afforded me with many opportunities to achieve my potential. My journey has seen many ups and downs, and till not so long ago, INSEAD would have been beyond my reach. Today, I am fortunate enough to use the knowledge and experience my career and my time at INSEAD have equipped me with, to make a difference to the communities around me, and help others achieve their potential without being seriously disadvantaged by where they live.
This overwhelming desire is what took me to Vital Regenration, a grassroot charity that works within some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in London, to make a difference where it matters the most. We do this through working within our communities to bring the benefits of Learning, Employability and Enterprise to our beneficiaries, young and old. I would be grateful if you could spare some time to visit http://www.vitalregeneration.org/our-projects to see for your self the work we do, and the impact we have on our community. Your community.
In the last few months, I have interacted with many of our beneficiaries at a personal level - there are people with mental health issues, drug takers, young people that have already had a brush with law ("Hooded Rats" as they call themselves to identify with each other), and single parents among them. Most have grown up without positive role models in life, and feel society's disapproval of them. The experience has been very enriching, as I endeavour to understand the true meaning of diversity and inclusion, and OPPORTUNITY. I know how vital the work done by Vital Regeneration is to bring the opportunity for a better future to the people that really need them.
This is why, despite a very painful right knee that has never fully recovered from surgery (and gets even more troublesome during the cold and damp winters), I am up for running for 5 kilometres in a Santa costume. Those that know me well, are aware of my aversion to costumes.
Your support will enable me to help some of the most needy of our beneficiaries this Christmas through some of our high impact projects, such as homework clubs for children living in dense, overcrowded housing estates, beneficiaries on our HELP project which works with thousands of people living in a prolonged state of homelessness.
I will be delighted to discuss our work with you in greater detail, and if you could spare some time to work with your local community at the grassroots level, I would love to discuss with you how you could get involved!
Christmas is about giving and sharing. As a start, I hope you will be generous in your support of the work we do, and dig deep into your pockets this Christmas, to help bring the festive spirit to those that truly need the gift of your donation.
Gift Aid it!
If you are a UK taxpayer, please remember to tick the Gift Aid box when donating so that an extra 25%, plus a 3% supplement, can be added to your gift at no cost to you.
I really look forward to your support as I prepare myself to run the 5 kilometres in Greenwich Park on Sunday 6th December. Feel free to come along and cheer if you can make the time!
Be generous this Christmas!
Thanks a lot!
Madhu
