A first-of-its-kind Grand Walkathon was held in December to create awareness on organ donation by RC Indore United, RID 3040, in partnership with the Mitasha Foundation, a local NGO into public campaigns, with the participation of 12,000 volunteers including 140 Rotarians from 11 Rotary clubs, students, youth, and professionals from all walks of life.
Indore and Sidhi Lok Sabha MPs Shankar Lalwani and Rajesh Mishra flagged off the 5km march in the presence of subdivisional magistrate Sudam Khade, IPDG Sushil Malhotra, Mitasha Foundation chairman Aalok Singhi, a club member, and senior Rotarians of RID 3040. “It was a grand show of unity that brought together government officials, healthcare staff, frontline workers, educational institutions, civil society, and thousands of citizens to turn the spotlight on a single cause: Saving lives through organ donation, and the prevention of anaemia,” said Rajeev Tuteja, immediate past president of the club.
Around 30–35 NGOs, corporates, schools and societies joined hands with Rotary to spread the message. More than 10,000 organ donation pledge forms were distributed in the course of the awareness rally, “and we have already got back 4,500 filled forms… we are expecting many more in the coming months.”
Added Singhi, “the response from the public was beyond expectation… we thought that it would be enough with 500 volunteers, but societies and people from across Indore came forward and joined us.”
One of the emotional and nostalgic moments at the event was when 20 athletes who had represented India at the World Transplant Games — a multisport event held in Olympic style every two years for those who have undergone an organ transplant and living donors — walked alongside thousands of participants and interacted with them. “Each athlete represented a miracle made possible by organ donation. Their stories reminded the audience that behind every successful transplant is a family that chose generosity during its most difficult moment,” said Singhi. The campaign also highlighted the urgent need to tackle anaemia.
The walkathon has entered the Word Book of Records for “being the largest organ donation awareness lesson for one hour involving 6,128 participants at the Nehru Stadium, Madhya Pradesh, India.”
Incoming club president Kiran Modi has assured Tuteja and Singhi that the walkathon would become an annual feature of the club. The project cost of ₹5 lakh was sponsored by different societies and members of RC Indore United, a six-year-old club with 52 members.