14-year Old Helps Near 300 Amputees Walk Again!

MUMBAI:
Veer Agrawal, a 9th grade student from American School of Bombay was all smiles on the successful completion of the four day ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp for which he had raised funds to the tune of Rs.14 lakhs. The funds raised enabled the ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp held at Risod in Washim district of Maharashtra from 23rd to 26th November. About 350 physically challenged people from nearby districts visited the camp, out of which about 300 were found fit for the treatment with prosthetic leg and were able to walk again. Over a dozen were also provided with wheel-chairs.

Expressing his joy at helping people regain their mobility, Veer Agrawal said, “A road accident some years ago resulted in a thigh bone fracture that left me bedridden for weeks! The agonizing experience always haunted me and motivated me to do something for physically challenged people from financially weak background and help them to experience the joys of walking and running once again. I learnt about the concept of the ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp and decided to set up a crowdfunding campaign on a website (http://vhelptowalk.org/) created for the same.” The camp was organized through Seth Bhagwandas J Agrawal Charitable Trust. His parents supported him in this noble initiative.

Speaking on what drew him to rural India, Veer added, “Through my research on the net, I found that there are many needy people in rural India who did not have access to and could not afford a prosthetic limb. This motivated me to take-up this cause in rural parts. It is fulfilling to see them walk again. I am deeply thankful to all who supported this cause and made this camp so successful.”

Fitting an amputee with the ‘Jaipur Foot’ costs about Rs. 5000 per patient. The artificial limb is customised to fit the patient as per their size and post fitment the patient is able to walk normally again. Amputees because of accidents as well as polio affected persons were among those who benefitted from the camp.