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TELSA Marks Independence Day With Another Walkathon
About 20 members and supporters of TELSA set out on another 'solicitation walkathon' as a way of remembering the kind of effort that preceded their country's independence but also to meet a $9000 shortfall in funds required to complete the free bicycles project.
They started at the home of Lidia and Dr.Mohan in Claremont who gave them breakfast and a starter donation and made their next stop at the home of Uma and Dr.Dwaraknath Reddy. They explained their reasons for the walk, talked about the work of TELSA, enjoyed their hospitality, collected their contribution and proceeded to Upland where their first stop was at the house of Mrs. Sundari and Mr. Ramapriya Samudrala. The Samudrala's received them warmly, served them fruit and juices, promised to add to their previous contributions, and set them off to their next stop at the home of Mahesh Ayyalasomayajula where once again great hospitality and a contribution greeted them. They then made an impromptu stop at the home of Sri Siddhanti and Dr.Bharathi who invited them in and offered a contribution.
Mrs.Annapurna, who joined the walkers for the first time, began to enjoy the experience so much that she broke into a song familiar to all present from their childhood years in India. The song which refers to visits by teachers and their studens to the homes of townspeople during the dusserah festival in days gone by combines fun and mild chastisement in seeking patronage got everybody in a merry mood and the hosts asked for an encore before they parted with their check.
The walkers next went to the house of Drs. Sarika Jain and Ravi Mandapati where were received with friendly smiles, nuts, cookies, juices and frozen grapes (really good!). The check got bigger and was dropped in the hat held out by Murali Chanduri, who has done the same at the other stops also. About a half hour later, the walkers proceeded to their final destination at the home of Dr.Y.S.Ramarao and Shailaja where a healthy mix of salads, fruits, sandwiches and Indian delicacies awaited them for lunch. Opening the door, the Raos found the placards held aloft by the group quite interesting and enjoyed Annapurna's rendering of the Dusserah song even as they also joined the singing.
An hour or so later , having enjoyed the food and hospitality, the walkathoners ended the trek for the day after collecting the biggest check of the day.
The effort raised $3332 directly, and another 1100 indirectly in pledges, leaving just another 4+ thousand dollars to be found to fulfil TELSA's obligation toward the bicycles project.. The distance covered by the walkers was about 8.5 miles. The effort was well worth it despite the hot weather that left the walkers a little tired by its end.
Walkers Included: Murali Chanduri, Swarna Chanduri, Kumar Bugga, Murty Rallabhandi, Shyam Appali, Padma Indraganti, Radha Reddy, Dipaali Reddy, Dwarak Reddy (not the host referred to above, but the 10 year old son of Radha & Jayapal), Srinivas Pang, Padma Pakala, Ravi Palakodety, N.S.Malladi, Annapurna Duvvuri, Siri Vennela Indraganti (7), Manasa Ayyalasomayajula (7).
As usual, transportation support was provided by the ever patient I.S.Sarma and Kumar Rambhatla.
Reported by our administrator. |
