Squash-A-Mile,for a cause

The event is the brainchild of squash player Karan Arora. Initially,the proceeds were donated to Concern India Foundation. Arora and his friends eventually saw in the event a potential to turn it into an annual event at the Gymkhana.

Abhimanyu Shah (17) and Rohaan Advani (16) — both active squash players,took their cue from Arora. “I took over from Arora last year when he left to study in the US. This year,Rohaan joined the event,” Shah said.

Organisers said the participants are required to run one mile or 165 laps of the squash court in the fastest time possible. However,the rules were relaxed as senior citizens also showed up for the event. “Not everyone could run. They walked instead. And also,not everyone could complete a mile but they gave their best,” said Shah.

The duo said they started the arrangements for the event three months back. Posters were put up in schools,colleges and malls to publicise the event.

This year,the proceeds of the event were donated to V Care Foundation,which works for cancer survivors. “We don’t have the resources to raise funds ourselves. But these teenagers have been great at it. It was so good to see an enthusiastic crowd on Sunday morning. I am happy that they raised funds for us. A lot of people who didn’t walk or run also donated generously,” said Vandana Gupta of V Care Foundation.

The foundation,which will turn 20 in February 2014,provides financial aid to families of cancer patients. It also counsels cancer patients besides visiting them in hospitals and organising parties for them,she said.

Nineteen-year-old Karishma Sanghi,who participated in the event for the first time this year,completed covering the mile in 12 minutes and 55 seconds. “The ambience was such that I felt excited. They (Advani and Shah) had also put in a lot of effort publicising the event on social media,” said Sanghi.