Mumbai, Aug 21 (Mid-day): The software engineer and his friends have collected almost Rs 90,000 to donate to Magic Bus that provides local community role models to children

Throwing a party for friends and relatives, buying something for oneself, or going on holiday, is everyone’s idea of celebrating their birthdays.

But for Mehul Ved, it meant doing something different. This year on his 30th, the software engineer from Marine Lines ran 100 kilometres from the Gateway of India to Lonavla, to support 100 underprivileged children for their education.

Mehul, who has been participating in marathons and cycling events for six years, decided to run for a social cause on his birthday that falls on August 17. For this he approached a city-based NGO called Magic Bus — that works for underprivileged children.

Speaking to mid-day he said, “Every year, I gift myself something that will help me better myself through the next one year and beyond. As this was my 30th birthday, I decided to take up a cause. The closest thing to my heart is children and their education. There are so many children out there who do not get an opportunity to go to school or to pursue their dreams. The thought pains me and hence I decided to do something for them.” He and his friends have collected money to donate toward the education of 100 such children.

The run

Mehul started his run on August 16 from Gateway of India at 5 am. Taking the old Mumbai-Pune highway he covered the distance of 100 km in 21 hours and reached Lonavla at 2 am on August 17. In the entire run Mehul took four major breaks. “I took breaks in between to rest and have snacks. In the breaks I used to co-ordinate with my friends stationed at various locations,” he added.
Raising funds

With the help of Magic Bus and his friends Mehul started an awareness campaign on Twitter a day before his run. “The campaign will last till September 15 and until now we have managed to raise close to Rs 90,000. However our goal is to generate at least Rs 1.5 lakh so that we can support basic education of over 100 children,” Mehul said. Bringing a ray of hope in others’ lives was the best possible way I could celebrate my birthday,” he added.