G day x_umeed

I can…I will

There comes a time…

We all reach the edge…Edge of reasonEdge of rationalityEdge of monotonyEdge of excuses

There is no more road…

Just you and the next level

Inspiration has no anatomy…

Inspiration is the ability to latch on to that fleeting moment when you can relate to and truly empathize with a real problem you can help solve…

When passion meets motivation…

How can a recreational cyclist take on a 1000 kms ride?How can you raise 10 lacs for a disease no one has heard of?Why are you behaving like a 20 year old at 45?Who will buy your kms?

The road often opens up to meet you

If you take the first step…

I started meeting sponsorsPitched to friends, family and beyond

Finalized the equipment

Started practicing my thank you speech

The journey begins…

Surround yourself with the right people

Songita Verma Bloggers Mind

Faisal ThakurPro 9 bicycle studio

Swapnil KokamFitness trainer

Dr. SureshPhysiotherapist

Choose people who are very competent in their work and share your passion for the cause

Make a clear proposition across all media…

Sincere appeal via email to a wide range of people across my network to inform them of the cause and what I am doing and what I expect from them…

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Radio interview with famous RJ Hrikesh Kannan on 94.3 FM which reaches a limited but the right TG

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Article in ET Panache across India to spread the word about the disease and the ride

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Reaching international audiences through ‘Indian in NY’ newspaper

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Appeal to Indian and US audience using online portal rediff.com

This article generated almost additional contribution of Rs. 50k within two days of being published

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Invest in long format.

Full presentation on Eye cancer and the ride uploaded on SlideshareShared by many friends on their FB pages amplifying the message

Make a clear proposition across wide media…

Social media played a vital role in creating awareness and keeping everyone updated on the ride on a daily basis

The Umeed 1000 page got many shares and likes

People reach out…

As a result of the radio interview Ketto.org reached out and offered an online payment gateway to collect funds for the ride

We collected close to Rs.2 lacs from this online gateway

People start believing in your vision…

Soon we had seven companies on board as sponsors giving us the much needed wind in the sails by contributing Rs. 14 lacs

We also received almost Rs. 10 lacs from 124 individual donors

“Life is a long lesson in humility” (J.M. Barrie)

Experience is a process of discovering or re-discovering the meaning of words we use everyday

Some words that humbled me…

Unconditional support…

We got some really great unconditional support.

Famous Bollywood actress Tamanaah flagged off the event

More than 50 people with cycles to encourage me

Social media coverage

Unconditional support…

Friends created special tweets and posts during the ride and shared it on their walls.

This resulted in real time support and helped us raise another Rs. 50k

Staying the course…True courage is to do the same monotonous thing over and overKeep pedaling and churn out kilometers…one at a time

Put your head down, keep glaring at the white strip of paint hugging the shoulder of the road

Wonderment…

Small things that we take for granted can be a great source of wonder The warmth of the first rays of the Sun on my face never cease to amaze me

Wonderment…

The shades of green that fields morph into depending on the time of dayRelativity is cool. Normally we fail to appreciate these things while whizzing past in our cars

Wonderment…

The quirky nuances of human nature

Unknown people like Padma Ladge (cancer survivor) became a star campaigner and helped me reach a network that was beyond my purviewWhile people I had listed as ‘safe bets’ were a ‘no show’

Pure joy…

Difference between Happiness and JoyJoy=Happiness in 3D

Joy is the rain hitting your face like pellets at 45 kmph while you travel downhill on a slick water laden road Heady mix of risk and abandonment makes you live in the moment

Pure joy…

We distributed special Braille watches to kids at the school for the blind in Belgaum.They felt the dial and could not stop telling time to each other.An act we pass off as trivial brought so much joy to these kidsTime stood still…

Pain…

Battered and bruised on second day in Satara with 800kms to goQuadriceps gave up on the 7th day. Had to be strapped on both legs“Dar ke agge jeet hai”

Grace…

Was I chosen for this mission?

That truck could have knocked me down…The pain could have been worseOur lives compared to the kids under treatment

Lessons learnt…Enjoy all important milestones…big and small

Lessons learnt…Have fun along the way…

Lessons learnt…Carry your team and keep them motivated…

Lessons learnt…

Never lose sight of the end target…raising maximum money

Have genuine empathy for your customers…be in their midst

THANK YOUjasmeetsg@outlo

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