Spoorthi Charitable Trust providing ‘Inspiration’ to Seniors Celebrates ‘Annual day’

Mangaluru: Spoorthi Charitable Trust providing ‘Inspiration’ and ‘Caring’ towards Seniors celebrates ‘Annual Day’

“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. Live your life and forget your age ” — Henry David Thoreau

“Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilisation is the way that it cares for its helpless members.” — Pearl S Buck

Mangaluru: Quoting Dorothea Kent’s witty words” A man ninety years old was asked to what he attributed his longevity. I reckon, he said, with a twinkle in his eye, it because most nights I went to bed and slept when I should have sat up and worried.”, and starting my report on the lighter side of the vein, I think most of the elderly folks that I saw at today’s function might have done the same thing like this 90-year-old man. The enthusiasm and joy seen among the seniors present at the Annual Day celebrations of Spoorthi Charitable Trust (SCT) held at Vathsalya Dhama-Giridhar Rao Sanjeevi Bai Vridhashram-Kodialbail here was enormous, with everyone bubbling with excitement and fun.

Spoorthi Charitable Trust established in the year 2010, is a trust for prevention of ageing and promotion of active ageing. With India currently having over 10 crore Senior citizens of which 37 lakhs suffer from dementia, 4 crores suffer from poor vision, One in 3 has high blood pressure, 1 in 3 has arthritis, 1 in 5 has diabetes.and 1 in 5 has decreased hearing Cancer is 10 times more common in older people. One in 10 falls and sustains a fracture,1 in 4 has depression, 1 in 3 has bowel disorder, 1 in 5 has urinary incontinence. To prevent these diseases and disabilities, exercise is the only way you can escape ageing and age-related disorders, and Spoorthi Charitable Trust caters to the needs of the elderly people by providing them inspiration, care, love, arrange exercise classes, regular health check-ups and so on.

Spoorthi Charitable Trust having its centre at Kodialguthu in City, where members have been exercising for the past 6 years, also distributes drugs to senior citizens at concessional rate and distributes free samples for organised health camps. Health check camps, memory tests, BP checks, free sugar tests, exercise demonstration are held often. Their Exercise centre will teach simple flexibility exercises for all the joints in the body, exercises to build muscles and strengthen them, and also balance exercises. Health camps will include free sugar testing, Memory testing, Blood Pressure check up, general health check, eye check and orthopaedic check. Poor people can avail this service free of cost. In this regard, Spoorthi Charitable Trust has been a helpful organisation in catering to the health and ageing needs of the elderly people.

The Annual Day celebrations began with a prayer song invoking God’s blessings, followed by Dr Prabha Adhikari, Secretary of the Trust welcoming the gathering. Kumuda Adhikari Founder Trustee gave away the prizes. Dr Mohini Bhat one of the trustees introduced the Chief Guest Bhanumathi Sumanth Kumar, while Usha Hebbar Treasurer of the Trust and Director read the annual report and also delivered the vote of thanks.

Chief Guest Bhanumathi Sumanth Kumar a retired teacher is never tired. She goes to the Ashokanagar school daily where she served as Hindi teacher and assists the school authorities to run the school. She is also the founder of several Bhajan groups and organises Bhajan sessions and composes her own songs. Yet another Guest of honour was Panduranga Rao Adhikari, a retired Engineer who is a well-wisher and donor of the Trust also gave away prizes. Er Jerardin D’Souza Founder of Mangalore Alzheimer’s Association also on the dais gave away the prizes to winners of memory games, and his speech he thanked Mangalorean.com for the wide coverage towards the benefit of Seniors and also bringing awareness of Alzheimer’s and other illness through various reports/articles.

Jerardin D’Souza complimenting Dr Prabha Adhikari and quoting her as the “Spoorthi” (inspiration) of the Trust said, “I am honoured and blessed to be among all these ‘young men and ladies’ who are indeed having more fun than the real youngsters. I am just like a side actor or a “joker” in a mega blockbuster movie, rendering my support and encouragement to the elderly to the best of my ability. It’s nice to see that everyone here is happy and quite healthy. Let’s not fear death, instead, live happily and enjoy life to the fullest when we are still alive and ageing. Long live Spoorthi Charitable Trust for caring towards the Seniors”.

The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the chief guest and other dignitaries on the dais, along with Sulaiman from Ullal, one of the beneficiaries of the Trust. Sulaiman and yet another Senior were presented with cheques of Rs 10000 each to help them pay for their medical expenses- and an appeal was also made to members to donate whatever they can to help these two individuals. And the audience obliged and Rs 9750 was collected on the spot and a matching grant was added by Spoorthi Trust to give additional Rs10,000 each. Sulaiman entertained the audience with his melodious singing.

Girish Adhikari one of the trustees was also present. Meera Prabhu, regular donor of our trust was honoured. The formal programme was followed by a cultural session, where the “young” members of Spoorthi, KMC Nava Chaitanya enthralled the audience with their hidden talents, comprising of songs, skit and dances. No doubt, Seniors Rock!

About Spoorthi Charitable Trust, Mangaluru:

It is a trust for prevention of ageing and promotion of active ageing.

Aims and Objectives of the Trust:

– To provide health promotive services by setting up multiple centers of physical activity (exercise)
– To provide preventive and promote checkups such as free blood sugar, B.P. ECG checkup for members regularly and to offer free counselling on diet and exercise.
– To provide chronic disease management services for patients with diabetes, hypertension and age-related disorders at low cost or no cost including the supply of free drugs.
– To provide home care services such as home visits by doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and arrange for home nurses for temporary care.
– To accompany elderly people for the regular checkup at centres of their choice.
– To provide palliative care and end of life care for the terminally ill patients in their own residence.

Membership is open to anybody who wants to avail all the above services irrespective of age; and Anybody who wants to contribute to the cause in cash or kind or offer their services.

For more information call: 0824-2495128; 9880991290