At the 7th edition of Samarthanam’s Bailley Bengaluru walkathon on Saturday 10, December, nearly five thousand people participated. MLA B N Vijaykumar, and Byrasandra Corporator N Nagaraju, inaugurated the walkathon at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Stadium, Jayanagar. 
Dr Raksha Jayaram with her students. Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
In his brief speech MLA Vijayakumar, promised to make the stadium disabled friendly. Corporator Nagaraju, hoped to start a sports academy at the stadium that would match international standards.
Others present on the occasion were restaurateur Sadananda Maiya, Raj Rajkumar, Director, T E Connectivity, Rev Fr Arul Raj Sampath, Parish Priest, Christha Prabhalaya Church, Jayanagar and JP Nagar Corporator, Chandrashekar Raju.
The walkathon was to commemorate world disabled day that falls on 3 December. The theme for this year’s walkathon was ‘Walk for Shelter.’ Samarthan hoped that the event would help raise funds for the upcoming disabled friendly residential school, comprising 55,000 sq ft with an estimated cost of Rs 8.25 crores, at HSR Layout.
Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
Dr Raksha Jayaram with her students. Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
Actor Spoorthi at the walk. Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli.
Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli
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Dancers performing Puja Kunitha, Dollu Kunitha, Pata Kunitha etc led the grand procession that marched through the busy Jayanagar 4th block area. If traffic got held up no one complained.
Spoorthi Suresh, an upcoming Kannada female actor and brand ambassador of the event actively participated in the procession. She had roped in friends from the film and television industry and cheered the participants even as she surprised Bangaloreans with her impromptu jig.
Pic: Sridhar Comaravalli.
After covering 3.5 kms through the main roads of Jayanagar, the procession finally made its way back to the Stadium where a grand cultural show awaited the audience. The highlight of the event was a Bharata Natyam performance by "Sunadha" the troupe consisting of the visually impaired students of Dr Raksha Jayaram who have been taught the nuances of dance using the touch and feel method. This troupe has won an award at the national level competition held by All India Confederation of the Blind.
Other students also caught the attention of the audience with their deft performances that included singing, flute recital etc.
As the show came to an end, the disabled children clearly demonstrated that they were second to none in their accomplishments.
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