Their lives despite disability, a celebration in the city

CHENNAI: As part of the International Day of People with Disabilities (December 3), The Headway Foundation, an NGO, that is dedicated to obliterating the social stigma around the differently-abled, organised an event, Rendezvous 2017 at Hotel Savera, recently. The auditorium was filled with people with several types of disability.

“We organised this event to celebrate the success of many people with disabilities (PwD).We are also launching the 2018 calendar which features 12 disabled people who are breadwinners for their respective family,” said Raghavi Senthilkumar, founder, The Headway Foundation. A website and YouTube channel of the foundation, which is made exclusively for showcasing the talents and abilities of PwDs, was launched. It also update members and supporters about the activities of the foundation.

Many PwDs enthralled the audience through cultural performances like fashion show, mime, songs and dance. The event was also attended by Syed Rizwan of Airtel Super Singer fame, Gulfam Ahmed, model and national para powerlifting champion, Raja Krishnamurthy aka Kitty, actor, and national para swimmers Justin Jesudas and Shams Aalam.

An award function titled ‘Mr. Inspirer’ and ‘Ms. Inspirer’ was also held. The titles went to Anand, an artist with Arteriovenous Malformations and Durga Lakshmi, trainee, Rejola.com, who has muscular dystrophy, respectively.