Hand In Hand USA’s annual walkathon - a Family Funfest!!
The second walkathon organized and hosted by the nonprofit Hand In Hand USA(HiH USA) was a heartfelt and family fitness-oriented offering for the community. The walk was held at the Chattahoochee Pointe Park in Forsyth County, Georgia on 17 August 2024. HiH USA was established in 2001 to provide humanitarian aid with a mission to serve impoverished communities in India and humanity at large during times of need.
[Left] Third Eye Dancers participated in the event.
The largest project of HiH USA is Hariharananda Balashram, a residential school for 500 children providing care for and educating students from pre-kindergarten to 10th grade. The students are selected from extremely impoverished situations and are either homeless or come from homes with parents who have no means to support the child. HiH USA is run entirely by volunteers; and hence over 95 percent of the funds raised directly benefit the children.
Atlanta volunteers have been working tirelessly for months planning and spreading the word about the walkathon. It was refreshing to see more than 40 youth volunteers—high schoolers and Troop 205 Boy Scout troops—take an active role in the event—helping with organizing, setup, and cleanup.
[Right] Walkers enjoying the Trail and forging new friendships.
Third Eye Dancers, a nonprofit, participated in the event with an enthusiastic presence. A teen volunteer said that she was participating to give back to the community, a motto of her dance teacher and founder of Third Eye Dancers, Subhatra Sudarshan.
[Left] Delicious breakfast added to the family fun.
Unexpected thunderstorms hit the area till 3 am the night before the walk and during the setup that morning. However, the weather turned around by 7 am and stayed pleasantly cool and sunny for the remainder of the event. There was a flurry of 303 registrations by the night before and despite the unexpected rain earlier, over 260 people attended the event.The overall participation was almost double that from last year. The walk kicked off with an introduction about HiH USA and the Atlanta volunteer group’s goal to raise funds for computer equipment for the residential school. Participants were eager with anticipation and motivated after the speech to embark on the 5K trail at 8.15 am. The trail was adorned with shady trees, views of the scenic Chattahoochee River, newly constructed bridges, and resting benches. Most walkers were engrossed in conversations and absorbing the beauty of nature around them. The wetness of the park did not dampen the spirits of all enthusiastic walkers and runners.
Upon finishing the walk, the aroma of spices wafted into the air and walkers were greeted with a delicious South Indian breakfast of idlis and upma along with bagels, bananas, coffee, tea, and chilled water. The participants enjoyed an appetizing breakfast around the shady retreat of the pavilion and play area.
[Right] Participants experienced a buoyant energy.
One new feature added this year was a trivia quiz for children on HiH USA’s mission and vision. Additionally, youth volunteers narrated the success stories of children at the Balashram—which added to the ambiance of the after-walk festivities. The children were excited to get trivia prizes and many of them got packs of greeting cards handmade by Balashram students.
Due to the efforts of a volunteer, Tata Consulting Services (TCS) also had a large presence at the walkathon with over 50 participants. The warmth and passion of the HiH USA Volunteers wrapped all those who came out to walk in a buoyant blanket of higher purpose. Participants learned about HiH USA’s mission and local children got glimpses of residential life at Hariharananda Balashram in India. The organization raised well over 10,000 dollars to fund the purchase of computer equipment for the Balashram.
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