The second wave of the novel coronavirus has overwhelmed India’s wellness care technique, with instances climbing to unprecedented levels and households of patients struggling to get oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, and ventilators. In the midst of this, citizens are assisting each and every other in the fight against COVID-19 – the virus that has claimed more than 3,15,000 lives so far in the nation. To contribute to India’s fight against SARS-CoV2, UK-based athlete Rama Gudimetla has taken up a challenge — to run at least 10 kilometres each day for one hundred days, and raise funds.
“I’ve taken up a challenge to run at-least 10 kilometers a day for 100 consecutive days to raise funds and support India Covid Appeal,” Mr Gudimetla wrote on his fundraising web page.
In his appeal for contribution, Mr Gudimetla stated the require of the hour was to get life-saving oxygen concentrators to the hospitals of India. He stated that British Asian Trust ‘Oxygen for India Emergency Appeal’ was raising cash for oxygen concentrators and would ensure they are deployed in hospitals and presented to patients who require them the most at the moment.
“A single concentrator will help hundreds of seriously ill patients,” he stated, adding that the funds will go straight to their charity, assisting these who call for oxygen therapy or emergency assistance in the course of the ongoing second wave.
An oxygen concentrator is an option device to oxygen cylinders. While cylinders require to be filled as soon as they get empty, a concentrator constantly recycles oxygen from the air and delivers it to the patient. The charity has currently raised £590 (roughly Rs. 60,000) of the £1000 (roughly Rs. 1 lakh) that it has set the upper limit to.
How did it start?
On February 24, 2021, Mr Gudimetla began operating, and initially believed he would do so for two weeks as a individual challenge. However, when it went up to 31 days and then 50, he realised he was passionate about it and could also use it to support other folks. That’s when he decided to set himself a challenge of operating for one hundred days
“In the beginning, I had so much pain in my both legs but slowly, I got into the habit of running, which brought enough endurance and I am addicted to it now. I’ve learned to fall in love with the process and not the outcome. Achieving goals and riding the high is short-lived before we want to move on to something new,” he stated.
But he is scared also. What if his streak comes to an finish due to an illness or injury? “If that does happen, however, I will stop this crazy journey of mine and take care of myself. But until then, there are just too many amazing things that come with running every day that I’m not willing to give up,” he stated.
Mr Gudimetla has so far raised 590 pounds out of his total objective of 1,000.
Meanwhile, India on Thursday recorded a further 2,11,298 COVID-19 instances and 3,847 fresh fatalities in 24 hours, the union wellness ministry information updated at 8 am showed.