V Ramachandran

About Me

I am V. Ramachandran (Ram)—a Company Secretary by profession and a runner by passion—having pursued the discipline of distance running for over twenty-five years. For the past fifteen years, I have also had the privilege of being a founder member of Mumbai Road Runners, a community that has brought together runners from diverse walks of life and has, over the years, fostered camaraderie, discipline, and a shared commitment to the sport through a range of collective initiatives.

At the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026, I ran the Half Marathon (Bib No. 26643), completing the distance in a creditable 2:15:48 hours. This run, however, was driven by a purpose larger than personal endurance—to lend my support to Animedh Charitable Trust, and to modestly buttress its efforts in advancing projects aimed at the upliftment of marginalised sections of society.

Appeal

I have been a runner for over twenty-five years, and a participant in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon—now the Tata Mumbai Marathon—since its very second edition. Running has given me far more than fitness or finish times: it has bestowed discipline, resilience, fellowship, and an abiding gratitude for the sheer privilege of physical ability. It is from this wellspring of gratitude that arises the desire to give something back to society.

At the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026, I ran the Half Marathon (Bib No. 26643), finishing in a creditable time of 2:15:48 hours. This run, however, was not merely a personal milestone; it was undertaken in support of Animedh Charitable Trust (ACT)—a non-governmental organisation committed to transforming the lives of children, youth, women, and vulnerable communities.

Every child, we often say, deserves the chance to grow, to learn, and to thrive. Yet in the tribal and rural villages in India, this promise remains heartbreakingly unfulfilled. Children with disabilities are frequently hidden away—victims not only of physical challenges but of stigma, silence, and a profound lack of awareness. There are no early childhood disability services within a 25-kilometre radius, no systems of support for these children or their families. ACT exists to change precisely this grim reality.

Through the tireless efforts of its Child Development Aides (CDAs) and Early Childhood Champions (ECCs), ACT brings hope directly into the heart of these communities. By means of early identification, therapeutic interventions, parental education, and community-based support, they enable children with developmental delays and disabilities to realise their latent potential—and, in doing so, alter the trajectory of entire families.

The impact of this work is neither abstract nor aspirational; it is tangible and measurable. To date, Animedh Charitable Trust has achieved the following:

2,157 interventions across 830 children through its CDAs
4,767 interventions with 900 families of children aged 0–3.5 years
Identification and sustained support for 45 children with multiple disabilities
Assistance to 289 preschool children across 13 schools
Facilitation of official UDID disability certification for 3 children, enabling access to essential services

To sustain and expand this vital work, ACT depends on the goodwill of individuals who believe that meaningful change begins at the grassroots. It relies on people like you to step forward and support initiatives that quietly, patiently, and profoundly reshape lives.

I therefore earnestly invite you to contribute to Animedh Charitable Trust through this platform. Your generosity will help strengthen their resources and address a pressing, often invisible, need within our society.

ACT is a registered NGO, holding 80G tax exemption as well as FCRA approval. Donations made are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Together, we can ensure that the distance between neglect and dignity is no longer measured in kilometres, but bridged by compassion.

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