Eastern India’s biggest road run is a fortnight away but the race to help the needy has already begun.
Fundraising is underway in full swing for the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, partnered by The Telegraph, organisers said.
The race is slated on December 18. The seventh edition of the race is back after two Covid-scarred years.
The money will go to a bouquet of NGOs which work in different sectors. Around two dozen NGOs are already on board, organisers said. TSK is a unique platform because it brings together many organisations, working for different causes.
The footsteps of the runners will reverberate far beyond Red Road, reaching remote corners of the state this time.
An organisation invested in improving the lives of people and protecting the ecosystem of the Sunderbans is the new philanthropy partner of TSK.
United Way Kolkata (UWK) is a branch of United Way, India, which is in turn affiliated to the global United Way Network Family with 1,800 affiliate chapters across 41 countries.
UKW has been running a mangrove plantation drive and an organic farming project in the Sunderbans.
Mangroves are a natural shield against cyclones and are central to the Sunderbans ecosystem. So far, over 30,000 mangrove saplings have been planted in the drive led by UKW. Local women are at the helm of the project.
The NGO has trained over 500 farmers, encouraging them to shift to organic farming. Around 200 vermicompost pits have been built by them, to minimise the dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
“United Way Kolkata is delighted to come on board as the official philanthropy partner for TSK 25K. This organic partnership shall go a long way in improving lives by mobilising the caring power of communities to advance the common good, via a network of NGOs, individual fundraisers as well as corporate donors,” said Madhumita Pyne, executive director of UKW.
Fundraising for the race will continue till January 4. Since the last edition, running groups have also been involved in raising funds, apart from corporate and individual donations.
Since its inception, TSK has raised a total of Rs 4.01 crore for over 75 NGOs. The 2019 edition of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, partnered by The Telegraph, has raised Rs 98.41 lakh for charity, compared to the Rs 65.35 lakh raised in 2018.
Among the beneficiaries this year will be Trilochanpur Association for Development in Social Welfare, an NGO in Debra, Paschim Medinipur.
The NGO runs a free tutorial for children of daily wagers. A library with over 10,000 books is an integral part of the learning process.
“The parents of most of the children work as agricultural labourers. No work means no pay,” said Banamali Patra, the founder of the NGO.
Calcutta Social Project, another beneficiary, has been working with children, women and the elderly through various programmes. During the pandemic, the NGO provided devices to children so that they could continue with their studies despite schools being shut down.
As part of a livelihood programme that started during the pandemic, the NGO started funding individuals, who had exhausted all their resources during the lockdown, to restart their businesses with interest-free loans ranging from Rs 2000 to 10,000.
“The marathon will give us more visibility. It will help us garner more donations for the organisation if not this year then in future,” said Arjun Dutta, president of Calcutta Social Project.
Three of the students from the sports programme of the NGO are also participating in the marathon.
One of them would be running the full 25km course on December 18.