Smiles from Miles
Kites filled the sky in Gandhidham, Gujarat, as participants of the Rotary Magical Miles Car Drive, an initiative by RC Mumbai Ghatkopar West, RID 3141, raised ₹9 lakh to fund a wheelchair racing cycle for Geeta Chauhan, National Wheelchair Basketball captain.
The seven-day rally, conceived by club president Shruti Dharamsi, featured 74 cars covering 2,500km across four states. The drive brought together Rotarians of RIDs 3131, 3141, 3142, 3055 and 3060, blending adventure with service, says Shruti.
DG Chetan Desai joined the rally from Mumbai, while DG Shital Shah (RID 3131) flagged it off in Pune. DG Tushar Shah (RID 3060) coordinated the Surat stretch, and DG Mohan Parashar (RID 3055) organised a 54-car roadshow in Ahmedabad. Gujarat’s education minister Praful Panshariya was honoured during the rally in Surat.
The journey that covered Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Gandhidham, Bhuj, Dholavira, Ahmedabad, and back to Mumbai, “was carefully planned through three logistics recce trips, the drive ensured seamless coordination and safety, with real-time tracking by Life360, a GPS app,” says Shruti.
Along the 2,500km route, “pit stops meant not just service for the cars, but also service to the community,” she adds. RC Mumbai Nova organised breast cancer screening camps in Surat, Gandhidham, Bhuj and Ahmedabad, screening 449 women, and detecting abnormalities in 20. The screening was done using iBreastExam, a portable non-invasive breast examination tool which uses advanced sensors to detect tissue stiffness and help identify potential breast lumps.
RC Ghatkopar West conducted Masik Chakra, a menstrual awareness drive, in Surat and Gandhidham which sensitised 1,200 girls. Through the rally, the club also distributed 2,500 copies of Menstrupedia, a comic book on menstruation and hygiene. The participants campaigned for organ donation during the rally. Rahul Ramugade, captain of the Mumbai Wheelchair Cricket team, and Geeta Chauhan, who completed the 2,500km rally, were also honoured.
In Vadodara, participants enjoyed a traditional Gujarati feast on a golden Sankranti evening. In Dholavira, “we experienced the full moon casting a serene glow over the white sands. In Ahmedabad, a fellowship dinner brought everyone together, where participants received silver coins as a token of gratitude,” she recalls. DG Mohan Parashar says, “Magical Miles lingered not only on the road but in every life it touched. It was an unforgettable road trip.”
RC Mumbai Ghatkopar West, under its Samutkarsh Project, in partnership with the Seva Sahayog Foundation, Mumbai, is supporting underprivileged children at two learning centres — Radharaman Abhyasika in Tagore Nagar, and Sidharth Abhyasika Surya Nagar, Vikhroli, since 2022, providing academic and holistic development opportunities.
At the Radharaman Abhyasika, four students passed their Class 10 Board exams in 2023–24, “with 80 per cent, while all 22 students from Class 5–8 cleared their first term exams with good grades. At Sidharth Abhyasika, first-generation learners from Class 1–4 are building strong foundations in languages and mathematics,” says Shruti.
Beyond academics, “students develop teamwork, confidence and empathy through games, competitions and cultural activities, with parents and the local community actively participating. Ansh Dhotre, a Class 3 student at the Sidharth Abhyasika, who is speech and hearing handicapped, enjoys drawing, and thrives in an inclusive environment where his peers warmly support him,” she smiles.
The Chai for Cancer Adda brewed up by the club and Friends of Max (FOM), a support group for CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia) and GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours) patients and caregivers, joined hands to stir up awareness and funds. Survivors shared heartfelt cancer awareness stories followed by karaoke performances. With participation from around 70–80 attendees the event raised about ₹1.92 lakh through 1,500 cups of chai, donations and merchandise sales. FOM also showcased its patient-led initiatives, spotlighting programmes that support patients and their families.
