Sunday 23 June 2013, Hyde Park, London
On Sunday 23rd June 2013 the Loomba Foundation will host the first Loomba Foundation 5k Charity Run in London’s Hyde Park to mark International Widows Day 2013, a global day of action that aims to raise public awareness of the plight of widows and their children around the world.. Thousands of runners from all across the UK are invited to take part in the route around the Serpentine which will be supported by a host of celebrities and VIPS, including Mrs. Cherie Blair CBE, President of the Foundation and other famous guests including Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Last year, to mark IWD 2012, the foundation organised a goat walk across London’s Millennium Bridge attended by Cherie, Cilla Black, Nancy Dell’Ollio and Floella Benjamin.
With a registration fee of £20 per runner, all monies raised through sponsorship will be used to further the work of the charity, empowering impoverished and vulnerable widows and helping them to escape the violent discrimination they face on a daily basis in countries all around the world.
Last year, to mark IWD 2012, the foundation organised a goat walk across London’s Millennium Bridge attended by Cherie, Cilla Black, Nancy Dell’Ollio and Floella Benjamin.
In November 2012, The Loomba Foundation signed a three year partnership agreement with UN Women, the United Nations body for gender equality and empowerment of women, to work together on three specific projects in India, Malawi and Guatemala. These projects will be run by UN Women with the support of the Loomba Foundation and the proceeds from the Charity Run will be specifically used to support these initiatives.
Since 1999 the Loomba Foundation has educated over 6,500 children of poor widows in India and supported 27,000 family members. Many of these students have already completed their studies after receiving scholarships for a period of five years or more. Currently there are over 3,500 beneficiaries being supported in 16 states in India. One of the Foundation’s most recent initiatives, aims to empower 10,000 impoverished widows in India, by offering sewing machines and training to make garments. Through this scheme, the widows will be more self reliant, able to educate their children and make steps towards leading a life of dignity.
