British Indian to complete AIDS -charity walk

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British Indian to complete charity walk

By Indo-Asian News Service, Saturday April 9, 4:18 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 (IANS) British-Indian Balwant Singh Grewal will

Wednesday complete his 4,100-km charity walk for AIDS,

cancer and tsunami at the southern-most point in India.

" The Great Charity Walk " that was started by Grewal Nov 16 last year in Amritsar

will have covered nine Indian states when he walks the last 90 km to reach

Kanyakumari.

The proceeds from the venture will go for AIDS and cancer research in India and

Britain and the rehabilitation of victims of the Dec 26

tsunami, Grewal told reporters during his brief stopover here.

" I had aimed to collect one million pounds. But now I am certain that figure is

not going to be achieved, " said Grewal, who has lived in Britain for the past 45

years and is chairman of the London-based

India Association.

He has, however, managed to raise 160,000 pounds from Britain and

Rs.2 million in India.

" Of this, it has been decided to set aside 40,000 pounds for tsunami

relief. The rest will be for research in AIDS and cancer. A portion

will be given to a centre in India selected on the recommendation of

the health ministry, " Grewal said.

The walk was organised by the India Association. Grewal walked an

average of 35 to 40 km a day.

And as he crossed the length of the country, what struck him the

most?

" I am surprised that none of the south Indian states through which I

walked spoke the national language. I was amused, " Grewal remarked.

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