It was a special rally on Sunday as over 100 spinal injury patients rolled down wheelchairs on the majestic Rajpath with the objective of spreading awareness about spinal cord injuries exhibiting their unbeatable spirit towards life.
Patients, consumers and able bodied gathered under the banner of the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), country's premier institute for spinal care, and six other National Societies. The participants were cheered by Union Minister Mahesh Sharma, who also flagged off this unique rally. India's fastest wheelchair marathoner, Shailesh Kumar Sinha, and the Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (New Delhi range) Ajay Choudhary were the Guests of Honour for the rally.
"This is a wonderful initiative from ISIC for supporting differently-abled people. I congratulate ISIC for taking up this serious issue. The Indian Government with its Accessible India Campaign has been working towards this objective and towards the creation of an inclusive India," said Union Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma.
This is a big initiative for a worthy cause, and it is inspiring to be witnessing this event. I have been interacting with the injury survivors and their stories are really inspiring. I salute their mental toughness and enthusiasm towards life. The work done by ISIC is indeed praiseworthy. The Delhi Police is committed to support such causes and help make the national Capital an inclusive State for one and all", Ajay Choudhary said.
Major HPS Ahluwalia, chairman, ISIC, who injured his spinal cord in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, shared his feelings on the occasion, "After a successful event last year, we are happy to come out stronger, in larger numbers, to bring back focus on differently-abled persons, especially those who have been fighting spinal cord injuries. Being an inseparable extension of the nervous system, an injury to the spine can render a person, temporarily or permanently, at partial or complete loss of muscle function, sensation, autonomic function of a part of the body, affecting adversely the life of the victim.”
Also present at the rally were Dr AK Mukherjee, Director General, ISIC and Dr HS Chhabra, Medical Director & Chief of Spine Services, ISIC, with other dignitaries and guests. International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) organised the event with the objective of spreading awareness about spinal injuries and their treatment.