Story
Dear friends,
I'll cut to the chase: I want your money!
Most of you know that over the past few years I've been committed to volunteering my time and energy with various organizations like the Red Poppy Art House and Bay Area Young Architects. Over the past few years, I've also been committed to cycling as the most sustainable and healthy mode of commuting, transportation and exercise. I've often spoken of my desire to cycle for charity with the Aids Ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And then I had to move to India...
Now, five months later... I've started working towards issues of social equality and education here in India, as these are some of the largest challenges facing this developing country today. Sometimes, especially in times of disaster, government efforts are simply not enough, and non-profits provide essential support and services at the speeds necessary to save lives.
Recently, I've renewed ties with Veerayatan, a charity my family has been deeply involved with over the past five years. Veerayatan supports and provides education among disaster-stricken and underprivileged parts of India, and their work has been making a huge difference over the past 35 years.
Veerayatan's role and efforts in setting up free residential schools for 7,000 orphaned and underprivileged children immediately after the earthquake in Kutch prompted the New York Times to hail Veerayatan as 'the biggest, most honest and best organized private effort to provide stopgap schools for children in the state of earthquake-torn Gujarat'.
In its eye hospital and orthopedic center in Bihar, India, doctors have performed over 2,00,000 surgeries, most of them free of charge. It has also established several primary education and vocational training centers throughout the region of Kutch, India. Veerayatan also operates an inner development center near Pune, India, and conducts courses and workshops in America, England, Kenya, Singapore, Australia, Dubai and Canada.
Veerayatan maintains 10 offices in 7 countries with a staff of more than 500 people. Their work is performed without regard to caste, creed, race, religion or socioeconomic status. The organization has been featured in numerous Indian newspapers and magazines, as well as the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. For more information please visit the Veerayatan website at www.veerayatan.org
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they're organizing a charity bike ride at the end of this year!
150 cyclists from the UK, Australia, Kenya, United States, Canada, Dubai and India will undertake a grueling 300km (200 mile) cycling challenge from Agra to Jaipur (in Rajasthan, India), to raise funds to provide educational facilities for the underprivileged in rural India. The ride starts at the Taj Mahal on December 29, 2008 and ends at the Jaipur Palace on January 2, 2009 and will run through a multitude of diverse terrain: on-road, off-road, in cold weather, up hills, thru deserts and more.
Needless to say, I've signed on and have been training vigorously for this charity bike ride. I would like to request your financial support in making this event a success and supporting Veerayatan in their mission of raising GBP 6,00,000 for their new educational centers! All Veerayatan projects are run on zero administration costs, which means that every penny you contribute for this bike ride will go directly to building schools and colleges for underprivileged children! And as many of you know, a little money goes a long way in India.
For more information on the event please check out the website: http://www.cyclingforcharity.com. If you have any questions about Veerayatan or would like to know more or get more involved with them, please contact me.
I thank you in advance for supporting education and social equality in India, and around the world.
Sincerely,
Kunal Ghevaria
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Veerayatan gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!
I'll cut to the chase: I want your money!
Most of you know that over the past few years I've been committed to volunteering my time and energy with various organizations like the Red Poppy Art House and Bay Area Young Architects. Over the past few years, I've also been committed to cycling as the most sustainable and healthy mode of commuting, transportation and exercise. I've often spoken of my desire to cycle for charity with the Aids Ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. And then I had to move to India...
Now, five months later... I've started working towards issues of social equality and education here in India, as these are some of the largest challenges facing this developing country today. Sometimes, especially in times of disaster, government efforts are simply not enough, and non-profits provide essential support and services at the speeds necessary to save lives.
Recently, I've renewed ties with Veerayatan, a charity my family has been deeply involved with over the past five years. Veerayatan supports and provides education among disaster-stricken and underprivileged parts of India, and their work has been making a huge difference over the past 35 years.
Veerayatan's role and efforts in setting up free residential schools for 7,000 orphaned and underprivileged children immediately after the earthquake in Kutch prompted the New York Times to hail Veerayatan as 'the biggest, most honest and best organized private effort to provide stopgap schools for children in the state of earthquake-torn Gujarat'.
In its eye hospital and orthopedic center in Bihar, India, doctors have performed over 2,00,000 surgeries, most of them free of charge. It has also established several primary education and vocational training centers throughout the region of Kutch, India. Veerayatan also operates an inner development center near Pune, India, and conducts courses and workshops in America, England, Kenya, Singapore, Australia, Dubai and Canada.
Veerayatan maintains 10 offices in 7 countries with a staff of more than 500 people. Their work is performed without regard to caste, creed, race, religion or socioeconomic status. The organization has been featured in numerous Indian newspapers and magazines, as well as the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. For more information please visit the Veerayatan website at www.veerayatan.org
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they're organizing a charity bike ride at the end of this year!
150 cyclists from the UK, Australia, Kenya, United States, Canada, Dubai and India will undertake a grueling 300km (200 mile) cycling challenge from Agra to Jaipur (in Rajasthan, India), to raise funds to provide educational facilities for the underprivileged in rural India. The ride starts at the Taj Mahal on December 29, 2008 and ends at the Jaipur Palace on January 2, 2009 and will run through a multitude of diverse terrain: on-road, off-road, in cold weather, up hills, thru deserts and more.
Needless to say, I've signed on and have been training vigorously for this charity bike ride. I would like to request your financial support in making this event a success and supporting Veerayatan in their mission of raising GBP 6,00,000 for their new educational centers! All Veerayatan projects are run on zero administration costs, which means that every penny you contribute for this bike ride will go directly to building schools and colleges for underprivileged children! And as many of you know, a little money goes a long way in India.
For more information on the event please check out the website: http://www.cyclingforcharity.com. If you have any questions about Veerayatan or would like to know more or get more involved with them, please contact me.
I thank you in advance for supporting education and social equality in India, and around the world.
Sincerely,
Kunal Ghevaria
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It's also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Veerayatan gets your money faster and, if you're a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!