Group of runners set up kitchens to send food out to stranded migrants

Gurgaon: A group of people who bonded over their love for running have come together to help those in need during the ongoing crisis. Around 100 people under the banner of Leisure Valley Runners group have arranged for around 1.7 lakh meals till now for the underprivileged. They are also serving meals to those migrants returning home by trains.
The whole initiative started in the beginning of April when the first phase of lockdown ended. “We came across multiple reports of people surviving without food. So, 30 of us came together and started getting food cooked in the gurdwara to distribute it among the needy across the city,” said Rajeev Chadda, who works with a private firm in the city and is also a marathon runner.
He added that they began with 300 meals and eventually upgraded to more. The group set up four kitchens across the city, one in South City-1, one in Sector 54 and two in Palam Vihar. “Our main objective was that food should reach those, who actually need it and nothing should go to waste. During our assessment, we realised that Gurgaon is spread beyond the highway, so we also reached out to migrant labourers stuck in different areas of the city,” said Rajendra Bahuguna, who works with GMDA.
Eventually, as the scale of their operations expanded, the group reached out to DCP Chander Mohan’s office and the Red Cross for distribution and coordination purposes. “We have been trying to take food to those in need and it has been highly satisfying for us. I hope more people come together to help and nobody goes without food,” said Jasjit Kang, another volunteer from the group.
Now with the migrant workers on their way back home, the group is providing around 10,000 meals to those going home in the trains. The entire relief effort has been funded by the contributions made by friends and family members of these marathon runners. “We dived into this whole race without any practice. We just wanted to help those impacted by the lockdown. I am extremely humbled by the support we have received and I hope people would continue to support us in all form,” said Ashish Bansal, another marathon runner and volunteer.