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Students walk the night away
TorontoTamil.com
May 3, 2005, 10:38

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Walk-a-thon Photos

The College and University Tamil Students’ Union (CUTSU) held its first ever overnight walk-a-thon on Saturday April 30th at York University’s indoor stadium. Students from high schools, colleges, universities, graduates and parents with their tots in tow gathered at the stadium to walk for children in the tsunami-affected parts of the North and East of Sri Lanka.

“It’s a huge commitment because you have stay awake and walk for twelve hours,” said Thiva Param, a spokesperson for CUTSU. Students talked, walked, ran, danced and played the night away. The fundraiser featured side attractions, music, food and stories from students who had experienced the aftermath of the tsunami in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

“We saw a lot. We were visiting the kids’ orphanage which was washed away by the tsunami three days after we visited. It was a very horrible experience for us,” said Arularasy Singam, who visited the region in December. She is part of a local group in Toronto, Tamil Children’s Endowment Fund, that is helping out with the children’s sector in the North and East.

“I went to Tamileelam to make kids laugh and returned crying,” said Amalraj Joseph of York University as he spoke on how he was impacted by his visit during the tsunami. He recounted a story of a mother grasping her to her six month old son so tightly as she ran to escape the waves, that she choked her baby.

Four little ones that were evidently enjoying staying up well past their bedtime were Nirojan Stanley Julius (5), Danuja Stanley Julius (8), Aristan (sp) Stanley Julius (9) and Niveda Ramalingam (12)

“I think it’s a good to experience how people in our homeland are feeling the same way. It hurts a little but we should feel the pain they are feeling at the same time,” said Niveda (12) after walking for three hours.

When asked why she was walking, Danuja said, “For the tsunami relief. For kids back there in Tamileelam and people that are not living happily like us.”

“I think they should also enjoy like we are enjoying right now. They should enjoy having parks and playgrounds to play instead of all the people dying,” said Aristan (9) added.

The event also left some that participated with a greater sense of the trials faced by the Tamils as they were being displaced. Senthuran Nadarajah, who literally walked non-stop for the whole twelve hours, said that he drew his motivation from the trails faced by his people.

Tamils living in the North and East had to walk hours and hours during periods of displacements.

“Walking around the track for twelve hours makes me realize the pain and suffering that each individual had to go through while they were being displaced,” said a tired Vani Kulasekeram (19) at the end of the event. “Just for us, it’s the pain in our legs, For them it’s the pain in their legs, in their hearts, their minds and everything they are giving up to go and find what they need in life,” she said.

The blisters and tired legs notwithstanding, the event was a great success for the CUTSU, said Vani, who was also part of CUTSU’s event coordination team. A cumulative 600 people are said to have participated.

Another walk-a-thon organized by the Canadian Tamil Helping Hands is slated for June 4th. For further information about this event, contact 416-908-2002 or 416-721-4241 or email Canadiantamilhelpinghands@yahoo.ca

Walk-a-thon Photos

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