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Walk to raise funds for autism centre
A
five km walk was organized this morning to raise funds
to build a centre to conduct research on autism and
rehabilitate children suffering from the disorder.
Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan, a long-time supporter of Action
for Autism, an NGO that has been trying to raise awareness
on the development disability for over a decade, was
part of the event.
Narayan strode along with the group even as a tiny girl helped
hold up a banner that loudly proclaimed ‘Sponsored Walk
for Autinsm-2004’.
“I
gave my students a lot of work to do and practice and
I told them that they’d better get it done before I
returned from the walk. I try and be here for every
function that Action for Autism organizes,” said Narayan.
As the group strode along, curious onlookers stopped to stare
and policemen wondered what this procession was all
about.
The second annual walk began from the grounds of Sanskriti
School in Chanakyapuri at around 10.30 am and went through
the diplomatic enclave in Chanakyapuri.
Merry
Barua, Director, Action for Autism, said: “A walk is
a fun way to raise funds. Many families joined us and
many more were eager to come.”
The
money will go for the construction of the national centre
for advocacy, research, rehabilitation and training.
Barua said that currently the organization operated
from a small, rented building in Chirag Delhi Gaon.
She added that this place had become inadequate given
the demand for its services.
“It is really difficult to raise funds for autism, because
the children who suffer from this disorder appear to
be normal,” said Barua.
The organization is planning to lay the centre’s foundation
stone in Jasola, behind Apollo Hospital, within the
next month.
Source: The Indian Express
Date: 14th march 2004
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