1,000 KM cycle ride to spread awareness about eye cancer that affects kids

Jasmeet Gandhi has his task cut out — 1,000 km in 10 days for Rs 10 lakh. No, it’s not a contest, but a cause he has embarked on. Gandhi, who is Partner Business Evangelist at Microsoft, will cycle from Mumbai to Bengaluru in a span of ten days to raise awareness about retinoblastoma (eye cancer that affects children below the age of five). Aptly named Umeed 1000 (1000 is the number of kilometres that will be covered), Gandhi hopes the expedition, which begins today, will create awareness about the disease, which can be cured if detected early. He also hopes to raise at least Rs 10 lakh through donations. He has raised Rs 4.65 lakh so far.

The funds will go to Bengaluru-based Iksha Foundation, which focuses on medical aid and rehabilitation of children affected by retinoblastoma. The foundation is currently treating 23 children with each child’s medical expense being Rs 1.5 lakh per year; this, after a heavy subsidy from Narayana Nethralaya, a Bengaluru based eye hospital.

Gandhi calls himself an amateur cyclist and says that it’s the first time he will undertake such a long distance. “It’s going to be a challenge. But I am motivated because it is for a cause. We (he and his wife) have been supporting various causes (education for girls and geriatric care) but only through donations. This gives me a perfect chance to combine my passion for fitness and do something meaningful with it,” says the 46-year-old adding, “It’s going to be interesting to see if I can pass this endurance test.

Besides conventional media platforms, Gandhi will also be promoting the cause by blogging about it during the trip.

Gandhi usually finds time only on weekends, nights or early mornings. “I do various routes inside the city. I ride on all the flyovers and highways to get some gradation, etc,” Gandhi says, who started the intense training seven weeks ago. He will be riding on Raleigh Revinio 1 model road bike, which has been imported from the UK and customised by a friend, who runs a bicycle studio in Bandra.

Gandhi took up cycling three years ago on his doctor’s recommendation. “It has become addictive. I put on my music and go for a long ride. It helps me relax and refreshes me,” he says.