This is a heartfelt appeal from me, Mariam Husain, student of Cathedral and John Connon School, in grade XI B. As part of an initiative by my school, I will be running a distance of 7kms in the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2023, in order to raise funds for HEAL. This is a foundation that does urgent and important work in the area of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). The prevalence of CSA and the stigma, self or socially inflicted, that survivors experience cannot be imagined, but surely stirs empathy. A childhood traumatised by sexual abuse is a spirit entangled in barbed wire, escape is difficult, pain is scathing and scars remain. An opportunity to give to a foundation that is working towards creating a safe space for these children is what I am running for, this is achieved not simply by sheltering them but also by relentlessly educating society to stop discrimination against someone who comes out of such exploitation. They needs smiles to hold them up, shoulders to rest on and patience until they HEAL. None of this can be possible without donations, and I thank you in advance for your contribution. Your donation will go toward restoring the spirit of a child. शतहस्त समाहर सहस्रहस्त संकिर । (Atharva Veda 3.24.5) Earn with hundred hands and donate with thousand hands. I urge with folded hands for you to join me in my humble effort.

Shefali Sanghvi
Nisreen Husain
Neeta Kadukar
Rashida Hasan
Mihir Doshi
Trapti Saxena
Mridula Malhotra
Deepak Garg