STRIDES OF HOPE - Team Asha Dallas

Vamsi and Deepika Mellacheruvu

Who are we?
We are a fun loving couple with a penchant for learning,  entertainment and travel.  We are planning to run two marathons this year and early next year.  The first one is the White Rock Marathon in Dallas on Dec 13th and the second one is the Austin City Marathon on Feb 10th.

Why we run?
We love to run. Running is not only a great exercise for the body but it also helps relieve stress and gives a sense of achievement with every extra step.
It is an amazing way to train your mind to listen to you. When we are close to the finish line and out of energy and the body gives up; the only thing that keeps us going is pure adrenaline and will power. The result is sheer ecstasy.

Running has practically taught us to “Never Give Up”. We have incorporated this lesson into various aspects of our lives and that has helped make a tremendous difference.

Why we run with Asha?
There are millions of children living in abject poverty with no access to even the basic amenities.  We strongly believe that education is a means of empowering tomorrow’s generation to not only make a difference for themselves and their standard of living; but
to also make a difference to the world.  We strive towards bringingthis light into as many lives as possible.
Asha means “HOPE”. HOPE is the essence of life.

HOPE gives something to look forward to. HOPE is the motivation to keep going until we see light at the end of the tunnel. We see HOPE in and for tomorrow’s generation. We strive passionately and in all sincerity to make this HOPE a reality.
Last but not the least, it is fun and energizing to train and  run with a group for a common cause towards a common goal.

Apart from believing in ASHA, what we have really liked in ASHA’s approach to ensure funds raised reach the child:

1. Keep operational costs down as close to 0 as possible. To do so, it leverages a massive team of volunteers. You should see the comparable administrative costs at other charitable organizations to appreciate how big an achievement this is.
Charity navigator, and independent organization that rates charities has given Asha for Education a 4 star rating, the highest.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=7630

2. Commitment to ensuring that 100% of your donations will make it to the end project.

Support us:
Just as how each and every one of us believes in a secure future for our own children by ensuring a great education for them, let us join hands in transforming the future NOW!!!!!
When  one sets out to bring transformation in the world, an even greater  transformation happens within oneself.

How can you help:
We are planning to run the White Rock Marathon on Dec 13th  and/or Austin City Marathon on Feb 10th depending on our readiness status.  Our personal goal is to raise at least $100 for each mile of a marathon we are running for a total of $2620 .  Please donate as much as you can to this worthy cause.  You can choose to donate to a specific Asha project of your choice or let Asha decide how to allocate the funds.

Tax deductions:
Contributions to Asha are 100% tax deductible in the US (under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code), and 50% tax deductible in India (under section 80G of the Income tax act).

Note: If you live in India, and wish to donate in Rupees, please mail a check payable to ‘Asha’ (NOT ‘Asha for Education’) mail it to this address and please add a note “Vamsi and Deepika Mellacheruvu’s Marathon Goal”:

Asha Trust
c/o Vallabhacharya Pandey
Village: Bhandahan Kala
Post Office: Kaithi,
Varanasi 221 116
Uttar Pradesh, India.

Asha Trust is a registered 80G organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by Indian laws for 80G organizations in India.