Little Heart Marathon pledges for Healthy Hearts
with more than 20,000 participants
A marathon aimed at bringing
awareness of Healthy Hearts in kids
7th February 2016 saw thousands of school kids &
their parents coming together for a noble initiative, Little Hearts Marathon. It was organised by Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital, in association with Shri. Siddhivinayak
Ganapati Temple trust to motivate kids to have a healthy lifestyle &
inspire others. Little Hearts Marathon this time for the consecutive third year,
was organised to inculcate healthy habits in kids which in turn will support a
healthy lifestyle later on in their lives.
The concept of physical play is almost getting
extinct which is leading to complications like obesity & other health
related ailments in not only elders but kids alike. These days kids are prone
to a number of heart related complications which is very unusual & is
caused mainly due to their redundant lifestyles. Little Hearts Marathon is an
attempt to bring back childhood in kids & promote healthy habits in them.
The marathon was organised by the hospital on Sunday, 7th February, from Nardulla Tank,
Siddhivinayak temple to Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children. The
occasion was flagged off by Shilpa
Shetty Kundra, Cine Star and Entrepreneur in the presence of Mayor of Mumbai,
Smt. Snehal Ambekar, Mr. Ness Wadia, MD Wadia Group, Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala,CEO
Wadia Hospitals, Mr. Narendra Rane,Chairman, Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust,
CEO and Trustees of Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust along with other
dignitaries.
The Mayor of Mumbai Smt. Snehal Ambekar
appreciated the Little Hearts Marathon arranged by Wadia Hospitals and
Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust& said,“It is focused on the cause of
preventing cardiac diseases in Children and encouraging them to live a healthy
and a happy life. Little Hearts Marathon is a special event of awareness for
Mumbai city. Many parents are not aware of the fact that their child may be
suffering from a Heart ailment, in the beginning only if the disease is
detected early and proper treatment of Heart is given, the child’s future life
is safe and healthy. Therefore the Marathon arranged by Wadia Hospital is not
just a regular event but also the cause for healthy social bonding in our
society. This is a good example set by Wadia Hospitals& I congratulate them
on its success.”
Actor , Entrepeneur
and mother Shilpa Shetty Kundra
said , As a mother I am happy to support this Noble cause in spreading the
Awareness of Prevention of Cardiac diseases in Children. I congratulate Bai
Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children and Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Trust for
having this endevaour on such a big platform
Mr Ness Wadia, MD Wadia Group, present at the occasion, when asked about his
views commented, “I think more than anything it’s the eagerness of these kids
to participate in LHM, which has made this endeavour a big success in the last
3 years. At Wadia Hospitals we are always looking forward to help everyone in
our society, the impact this Marathon has created in the last 3 years is
immense and we plan to do much more. I
appreciate the efforts of the hospital
team along with Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust for this successful event
& we are hopeful this will aid in getting the audience educated for their
own well being”.
"We started this initiative after seeing the
increasing number of cases being admitted to our children hospital for various
heart related issues. We have a huge referral of Cardiac patients from all over
the state and country, thus we felt the need to curb this alarming issue and
hence in association with Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati TempleTrust, we initiated
this marathon, which brings together thousands of children who enthusiastically
participate every year. So far we have been able to help 21kids who could not
afford thesurgeries and gather funds for Phase I of our equipment requirements
to start surgeries at our Hospital, through the support we received during last
2 marathons & this year we plan to inaugurate a Cardiac Centre through the
funds collected in this marathon, which will aid many more underprivileged kids
suffering from heart diseases, we thank all the children and supporters for
supporting our cause and request larger support in future", said Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO, Wadia Hospital.
On this occasion Mr. Narendra Rane the Chairman of Siddhivinayak Ganapati temple
trust said that he is overwhelmed by the success seen by this association in
last 3 years for Little Hearts Marathon and are looking forward to making this
bond further stronger.
This year saw a number close to 20,000 kids& their parent’s taking
part in the marathon which is a higher number compared to last year, and is a clear
proof of how the city has already started adapting to the healthier ways of
living. Proceeds donated will be used
forthe opening of Cardiac Unitfor kidswhere children suffering from Cardiac
diseases can avail affordable treatments with state of the art facilities.