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NRI, Grewal announced 'charity walk' in UK, Africa or Canada

London, May 07, 2006
Raman Chaudhry

NRI Balwant Singh Grewal, (known as Bobby Grewal), president of the UK-based India Association at the annual 'Vaisakhi' celebration announced that he would undertake a marathon 'charity walk' from Scotland to the southern part of England in August, 2006.

Annual 'Vaisakhi' celebration was attended by Darshan Grewal, Mayor of Hounslow, John McDonald, Labour MP, Dominique Grieves, MP and NRI industrialist Rami Ranger.

Next year, he will start another walk from Morocco to Egypt to raise funds for Cancer and AIDS research. If the Africa walk does not finalize then he would go from Toronto to Vancouver.

Mr. Grewal plans to undertake two more such walks in the UK and Africa to raise funds for various charities in Britain.

• In 2001, he had successfully participated in the London Marathon
• In November 15, 2004- April 13, 2005, he undertook the marathon walk from Amritsar to Kanyakumari by covering 4,096 kilometers from Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and raised 70,000 pounds for charity purposes.

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UK NRI completed charity walk for AIDS and cancer
Raised 160,000 pounds from Britain and Rs.2 million in India.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, April 10 2005

British NRI Balwant Singh Grewal will Wednesday complete his 4,100-km charity walk for AIDS, cancer and tsunami at the southern-most point in India.

"The Great Charity Walk" that was started by Grewal Nov 16 last year in Amritsar will have covered nine Indian states when he walks the last 90 km to reach Kanyakumari.

The proceeds from the venture will go for AIDS and cancer research in India and Britain and the rehabilitation of victims of the Dec 26 tsunami, Grewal told reporters during his brief stopover here.

"I had aimed to collect one million pounds. But now I am certain that figure is not going to be achieved," said Grewal, who has lived in Britain for the past 45 years and is chairman of the London-based India Association.

He has, however, managed to raise 160,000 pounds from Britain and Rs.2 million in India.

"Of this, it has been decided to set aside 40,000 pounds for tsunami relief. The rest will be for research in AIDS and cancer. A portion will be given to a centre in India selected on the recommendation of the health ministry," Grewal said.

The walk was organised by the India Association. Grewal walked an average of 35 to 40 km a day.

And as he crossed the length of the country, what struck him the most?

"I am surprised that none of the south Indian states through which I walked spoke the national language. I was amused," Grewal remarked (IANS)

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UK, NRI, walk with a mission to raise 1 million pounds for cancer and AIDS

Chandigarh, November 28, 2004
Express News Service

In pursuit of a noble cause, an NRI has taken up the task of spreading awareness about cancer and HIV/AIDS among people here. B.S. Grewal was born in Ludhiana and left India in 1958 to settle in UK.

He has undertaken a ‘great charity’ walk from Amritsar to Kanyakumari in pursuit of his goal. Presently in Chandigarh after he started out on November 16 from Amritsar, his next stop will be the capital city, Delhi.

Chairman of India Association, a UK-registered charity organisation, Grewal said he wants to raise 1 million pounds for cancer and AIDS-related research. “Money raised in India will be spent on research for cancer and HIV/AIDS treatment,’’ said Grewal.

Grewal was inspired by a story he read on a plane journey about a girl who walked from South Africa to Morocco. He was also disturbed by the death of his friend Peter and the low level of awareness in India about the disease.

Grewal wants the media to step in and tell the people about his walk.‘‘I want the media to spread the message of my walk which would, in turn, help in spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS,’’ he said.

 

 

 

Balwant Grewal- chairman, India Association, UK- 'charity walk'

• Grewal was inspired by a story he read on a plane journey about a girl who walked from South Africa to Morocco
• In 2004, Grewal has undertaken a ‘great charity’ walk with a mission to raise 1 million pounds for cancer and AIDS