Rain in Kerala in the month of August is not an uncommon phenomenon. In fact, for many people visiting this beautiful little state in the south of India during that time of the year, watching the rains fall across lakes, rivers and paddy fields is an enchanting experience.

2018, however, has been a bit different. Starting from around the 15th of Aug, Kerala was battered by relentless, record rainfall for over a week. Rivers swelled, dams had to be opened, and still the rains kept coming. The result was the worst flooding in nearly 100 years, millions evacuated, thousands of homes completely destroyed, and close to 500 dead, with many more missing or unaccounted for.

For Kerala, popularly known as God's own Country and famed for its serene backwaters, Ayurveda, and all-round pristine beauty, it was a week from hell. When the rains finally stopped around the 23rd of August and the waters receded, the full extent of the damage was apparent, as was the scale of the rebuilding work that lay ahead.

Donations have been pouring in, but the amounts are still well short of what is required to get Kerala back on its feet. It will take months, if not years, to recover, but we will get there.

For now, every small amount will make a HUGE difference and this is why I'm appealing to you to take a few mins to donate and spread the word.

Two final things:

1. I'm from Kerala myself, and was visiting the state during the immediate aftermath. Needless to say, it was heartbreaking to see the damage first-hand. At the same time, it was heartening to see thousands of volunteers, the army, navy, fire force, and even fishermen combining forces in this unprecedented relief and rescue effort. This has given a lot of people confidence that Kerala will emerge stronger, despite the enormity of the task.

2. On October 21, I will be running my first marathon. Training has not really gone as planned, and I now have approx 7 weeks before raceday. I have no doubt the experience will be profoundly unpleasant, and yet I know it will be nothing compared to what people in Kerala have endured over the past 3 weeks. And so I will be running for Kerala, and every little bit you donate will spur me on over those 42 unforgiving kilometers.

On October 22, I will transfer all donations received via this page to The Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

You are also welcome to contribute directly via the link above.

Thank you for reading, and for helping to #RebuildKerala.