Run for Avanti
Every step our mighty marathoners take helps our Fellows go to college. This January 2013, 17 people are hitting the ground running for Avanti in the Mumbai Marathon. Scroll down to find links to their fundraising pages and donate!
If you want to be a mighty marathoner, read our marathon blog and/or know of other upcoming marathons that you’re a part of/think we could be a part of – please contact us at marathon@avantifellows.org to find out/tell us more.
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Anna is an ATMA volunteer who worked with us last summer and is now also trying raise funds for us through the Mumbai Marathon. Here’s what she has to say
“Avanti Fellows are having a real impact on social mobility in India and the life chances of India’s brightest low-income students. I volunteered for this new and growing organisation over the summer and was blown away by the team’s vision and drive, and by the impact they’re having on smart, motivated kids.”
Support her run, donate here
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Ben and Karolle are IDEX Fellows who met in Hyderabad whilst working in the field of education for low-income families. Prior to moving to India, Karolle came across Avanti Fellows through interests in youth mentorship and leadership development programs. She was one of the first to contact us for the Marathon Bibs and they are now both running the Mumbai Marathon for Avanti! Here’s what they have to say
“I’m sure that most people looking at this page have benefitted from a rewarding university experience that is currently closed off to millions of young students in India. Every year in India 6 million young people are out of education or attend below average institutions: Avanti has begun to arrest this problem, by providing support to enable students to succeed during their time at college. The organisation currently works with over two hundred students in seven cities; it is hoped that by running for this cause, we might contribute in a small way to the expansion of this programme, enabling Avanti to reach out to more underprivileged young people. Please give whatever you can to help us achieve our target, so that the pains of our strict training regime will not be in vain!”
Support their run, donate here
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Deep Narayan Prasad is one of the Dream Maker Runners (pledged to raise >Rs. 1 Lakh) in the Mumbai Marathon and has chosen to run for Avanti. Here’s what he has to say
“We all have had mentors in our lives, be it our parents, our elder siblings, our teachers or any other individual, without whom we won’t have become what we are today. The target students here at Avanti Fellows are mostly the first generation learners in their families and don’t have that support system and guidance that can make them succeed. Now its our turn to give what we owe to the society.”
Support his run, donate here
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A lot of IIT Bombay students and alumni have chosen to run for us in this installment of Mumbai Marathon!
Chinmay, Prateek, Sneh and Urmil (IITB 2013), are running this years Mumbai Marathon for a reason and that reason is Avanti. They have chosen to run for Avanti because
“Avanti began in and continues to receive great support from the student community at IIT Bombay. The first set of student volunteers, our friend Abbas – the first student volunteer turned full-time employee, co-founders Krishna and Akshay are all from IIT Bombay. We believe that education is the single greatest equalizer and is the best gift you could give to someone and we wanted to be a part too! So, when we found out we can also be a part of Avanti’s mission through this year’s Mumbai Marathon, we jumped at the opportunity. We urge you to join us!”
To show your support, please click on the donate button here
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Harsh Shah (IITB 2010 and thanks Aishwarya!) is not only starting up himself, but also helping us start up! Here’s why
“Running for Avanti in this year’s Mumbai Marathon is very special for me. This is my first half marathon and is going to be the most I have ever run. Moreover, Avanti was co-founded by friends who truly believe in the cause. Today, I am where I am due to the gift of education. Avanti is committed to this cause of creating a better future by giving this gift to so many under-privileged students. I am running for Avanti to show my support for this noble cause.“
Support his run, donate here
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Roshan Soni (IITB 2008) convinced UWM to allow him to buy a Bib beyond the last date, he really wanted to run for us! Here’s why
“Looking back through my life, I always feel that the education is the best gift I got from the society. And I want to give back the same gift to the people who cannot afford the same. “
Support his run, donate here
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And last but not the least, wife and husband, Chaitrali Joshi & Krishna Ramkumar (co-founder, IITB 2008), are hitting the ground running and fundraising as well! Here’s what they have to say
“This year is going to be different. I’ve decided to start this new year by hitting the ground running. Literally. It’s now been 2 incredible years since the inception of Avanti Fellows. Like Don Quixote, I thought my husband was off on a foolhardy journey. But thanks to the power of ideas and great execution, Avanti today supports more than 350 students and has a team of 250 student volunteers across 7 cities. This year, they plan to launch learning centres aimed at providing students an affordable, high-quality learning experience. To achieve this and more, Avanti Fellows needs our support.Support her run, donate here
“This year’s Mumbai Marathon is extra-special for me for 3 reasons:
- This is my first personal fundraising campaign for Avanti
- This is my first half marathon since my 2008 knee surgery
- I aim to finish in <2 hours to counter my wife’s constant weight barbs!”
Special bonuses for contributing to his fundraiser – he is promising t-shirts and treats – to find out more, donate here!
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Tarun, KC, Manogna, Anuj, Akshay – thank you for purchasing Bibs from us! Good luck and happy running to all!