SHRI RAM-A-THON ENLIGHTENS INDIANS ON THE CONCEPT OF PALLIATIVE CARE

SHRI RAM-A-THON ENLIGHTENS INDIANS ON THE CONCEPT OF PALLIATIVE CARE

Thakur Ranjit Singh

A charity walk that commenced six years ago in 2014 has become an annual event of Shri Ram Mandir in West Auckland, New Zealand, to help out the needy and vulnerable in our community.

WEST AUCKLAND HOSPICE at 52 Beach Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland. They are the recipient of 2020 RAM-A-THON proceeds

Since this walk-a-thon is organised by Shri Ram Mandir Charitable Trust (SRMCT), it is named Shri Ram-A-Thon.

This year’s walk, which is combined with family carnival and sports day, will be held on Sunday 22 March, 2020, commencing at 8.30 am from Shri Ram Mandir at 11 Brick Street.

Flashback 2019 - Shri Ram-A-Thon walkers before commencing their walk , in front of Shri Ram Mandir, Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand

SRMCT initiated this walk initially to raise funds to complete its building project, but due to its popularity, continued it to help needy organisation over the years. 

It launched its 2020 Shri Ram-A-Thon on 30 January, 2020 where people pledged to literally walk their talk in service to humanity. After helping Star ship Hospital, Saint John’s Ambulance and Friend for Fiji Health in the past events, SRMCT is going to help an organisation that is providing exemplary service to vulnerable in our community who are at end of life – palliative care where individuals have limited time to live. Hence, West Auckland Hospice has been chosen as the recipients of 2020 proceeds of Walkathon.

Hanuman Devotee and former Bank Executive, ANESH CHAND (right) and Immigration Consultant Satish Chand, co-jointly are the principal donors for the fundraising event. Anesh  is giving launching speech at Shri Ram Mandir on 30 January, 2020.

Many Indians in general and Hindus in particular may not even have heard of palliative care or know what it means and involves. While we all may have situations in our families which require such care, many may not even know such services do exist in New Zealand.

Therefore Shri Ram Mandir has chosen to assist West Auckland Hospice which is involved in providing palliative care to those needing it. This process in itself has provided an opportunity for the Indian community to know about the helpful and philanthropic services provided to the community, and is free when recommended by your local doctor.

A glimpse of picturesque walk among the bushes of Henderson Valley Road, where this walk will meander through. Walkers will have breathtaking views of the greenery of West Auckland, leading to Henderson Park where sports and family carnival will take place on 22 March, 2020.

Perhaps it is an opportune time to enlighten our people about PALLIATIVE CARE

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness. This is achieved through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and faultless and proper assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psycho-social and spiritual. 

The main players in Shri Ram-A-Thon- (Right to left) Madhavan Raman (MC of the launch and Chairperson), Pravin Kumar (Managing Trustee, Shri Ram Mandir) the West Auckland Hospice guests: Barbara Williams (CEO), Stella Mc Farlene, Bella Davis, Celia Palmer,  Anesh Chand and Satish Chand (Co-jointly principal donors).

Palliative care provides relief from pain and regards dying as a normal process. It neither prolongs nor hastens death and involves psychological as well as spiritual care. It not only helps patients live as actively as possible until death but also provides support to family to cope during the patient’s illness and in their loss of a loved one. 

Palliative care kicks in early in the course of illness in conjunction with other treatment meant to prolong life such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Therefore palliative care for those with chronic life-threatening illness provides supports from the time of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment and provides care that increases quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and managing suffering. 

In contrast, Hospice care begins after treatment of the disease is stopped and when it is clear that the person is not going to survive the illness, but still providing comforts to the sick and the family.

FLASHBACK 2019:The dedicated and passionate team of walkers take a break for photo in the picturesque  Oratia Walk in Henderson: From left, Pushpa Adhar, Sunita Singh, Master Shiu Charan, yours truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, Shashi Kala Singh and Satish Chand.

Dying is an inevitable part of life and no two end of life situations are the same. Despite advances in modern medicine, everyone will die one day. While treatment is available for most medical conditions, however some cannot be fixed. A life-limiting or terminal illness is an incurable condition that will eventually lead to a person’s death. 

Hence it is for those life-limiting or terminal illness that palliative care kicks in.

Therefore Shri Ram Mandir requests all in the community to join in its walkathon to raise funds for a very worthy cause accessible to all needing their services. Hospice provides care in your homes as well and costs are covered by government upon recommendation by the doctor. 

CEO of West Auckland Hospice, Barbara Williams. addressing Hindu Devotees at Shri Ram Mandir on the types of services Hospice provides and what is involved in palliative care. Looking on are her support staff: L-R 

Celia Palmer (Palliative Medicine Specialist), Bella Davis (Community Relationship Manager) and Stella McFarlene (Community Palliative Care Manager)

However, fundraising for this worthy cause is just part of the event on Sunday 22 March, 2020. It is an opportunity to create awareness of well-being, healthy living, walking and exercising. It is also an effort to engage with the wider community, including children, youths, elders, women and people from all walks to life – enhancing diversity and multiculturalism. The walk will end in Henderson Park where a family sports day and carnival is organised, with food stalls and fun play and games for the whole family.

So, come along and join us for a worthy cause.

FLASHBACK 2019: The colourful Rewa team of walkers (in red), led by Viren Lal (extreme left), with two Tavua (yellow) walkers as well.

For any further information or additional sponsorship forms and contributions, please feel free to contact:

Ravend Kishore on phone 021-2161894 e-mail ravenkishore@gmail.com or

Madhavan Raman on Phone on 027 8200 006 email madhavan.raman@xtra.co.nz

Other details are at Shri Ram Mandir Facebook page or can be obtained by contacting the Mandir on: 09-836 4647.

Shri Ram Mandir would be honoured to have you as part of this commendable deed.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a Mandir devotee, and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. He has been a part of Shri Ram-A-Thon community service since its inception in 2014]