A mega Rotaract Run in RID 3203
A first-ever Rotaract marathon was conducted at Udumalpet, a small town in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu, by the Rotaract Club of Udumalpet Yuvas, RID 3203, on the eve of Rotary’s 121st anniversary on Feb 23. Project Hope 3203 had twin events on Feb 22–23 with 5km and 10km marathons that saw over 400 runners including college students, public and children taking part to spread awareness on drug abuse. This was followed by a mega community pledge on suicide prevention the next day.
Recalling the success of the twin-event under a single banner, club president Janaki P L said, “the marathon created awareness on the substance abuse by the youth. Before the run, we distributed a specially designed t-shirts with Hope 3203 logo embossed on it, along with the tagline: Run for a Drug-free Tomorrow. At the end, certificates and medals were given to all the participants who were also served refreshments.” Addressing the runners at the end of the marathon, she urged them “to work and create a safe future for the next generation.”
Rotary’s motto of Service above Self was also emphasised by Janaki who said, “every drop of sweat and toil is a symbolic commitment for a healthier generation tomorrow.” In his speech, DRR T Selvavignesh pointed out “true win is all about creating awareness on drug abuse and mobilising the youth for a good social cause.” Also, Rotaractors have to engage the civic leaders and amplify their social causes for better impact in their communities, said the DRR.
On the second day, Feb 23, in a massive show of unity and solidary, “1,290 people including college students and the public took a pledge on suicide prevention and life protection under the second leg of Project Hope 3203.” Both the events were held at the Sri G V G Visalakshi College for Women, Udumalpet,
Police inspector Ram Prabhu flagged off the marathon, and the top four winners in the boys and girls categories were given cash prizes, along with medals. The joint pledge by a thousand people on the college campus has entered the India Book of Records for ‘maximum participants taking a suicide prevention and life protection pledge simultaneously at a single location.’
The club is planning for the second edition of Hope 3203 in May with twin focus on suicide prevention and awareness on POCSO and POSH laws against child abuse and sexual harassment. “The May event will have both a marathon and a group pledge with the involvement of around 3,000 people in a single day,” said Janaki.
Eyecare camp
In the first week of May, they will conduct a two-day roving eye check-up camp across 19 tribal habitats around Udumalpet with the support of 5–7 doctors from the Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore. “All our members will take part in the medical camp and coordinate with the doctors and paramedics for a trouble-free screening of rural patients,” she said.
While they hold two board and two general body meetings a month to review their work and initiatives done so far, and “chart out our future programmes, all the service projects are being sponsored by Deeppan Academy, Coimbatore,” she explained.
As a five-year-old Rotaractor, Janaki aspires to become a DRR in the next three years, “after which I will join my parent RC Udumalpet Tejas.” She looks after her family’s auditing firm being run by her mother. The 16-year-old Rotaract club has 22 members drawn from diverse professions
and trade.
