Going the distance
View(s):“Trail” 2016 will take walkers from North to the South in aid of the Karapitiya Hospital
By Purnima Pliapitiya
In 2011 Sarinda Unamboowe and Nathan Sivagananthan organised a walk from the South to the North of the country to raise money for cancer. “We started off as a few friends,” explained Sarinda, who was initially coerced into walking the great distance as a bet he had made with his friends. What began as a small walk progressed into a journey of around 30,000 people walking for one cause. Their initiative “Trail” saw the fruits of its endeavour in 2014 with the erection of the Tellippalai Cancer Hospital, with 120 beds and 4000 patients to date.
Back after a hiatus, Trail is ready to take on another expedition this time from the North to the South in aid of the Karapitiya Hospital. Co-founders Nathan and Sarinda remember the overflowing beds and lack of space for the patients the last time they visited Karapitiya. “The first time around we collected Rs. 7.6 million on the road” they add, humbled by the enthusiasm and generosity of the people they would meet on their path who were always ready to give- from a five-year-old running after them with his till to a few men in Panadura who offered the tired walkers ice cream on their way.
The last walk attracted celebrities such as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who pledged to walk the entire distance. This time around, the walk has brand ambassadors from the music and film industry as well, with a theme song courtesy Bathiya and Santhush and Umaria, composed by Mahesh Denipitiya.
With their website launched on Wednesday, the duo are already warming up for the event to be held on October 6. Ambitious, energised and excited they only hope to move forward and think bigger with their goal and hope to inspire a few more walkers this year.
For more information log on to https://trailsl.com/