5:22pm Monday 6th December 2004
By Alex Melvin
RUNNING a marathon is demanding enough without having to battle against sweltering heat, just ask Paula Radcliffe.
However, two local men, in training for India's Mumbai Marathon, are hoping to conquer sub-tropical temperatures to raise money for charity.
Builders Shivlal Patel, of Woodside Avenue, Wembley and Ghansham Patel, of Claremont Way, Kenton want to lay the foundations for a better future for hundreds of disabled children by completing the gruelling run in January.
They have already raised more than £5,000 for the Care Education Trust charity, which provides disadvantaged Indian youngsters with schooling, health care and shelter.
Executive officer Ramesh Jadva is delighted the experienced runners, who clocked up impressive times in this year's London Marathon, have decided to don their spikes for the charity once more.
Ramesh said: "They both finished the London Marathon in just over four hours and helped raise thousands for us. It will be very hot in India, but they are keen to break the four hour barrier."
The Care Education Trust has a three-and-a-half acre centre in Bhuj, a Gujarati town twinned with Harrow, and needs further funds to expand.
Ramesh said: "We started in Bhuj following an earthquake in 2001 that left a great number of children permanently disabled. They suffer great trauma which requires long term care and counselling. We currently sponsor 4,500 children and have started work in Kenya and want to open a centre in Tanzania.
"When we began, there was a huge need for such a centre. It cost £600,000 to build, but would have cost £12 million in Britain."
The centre houses 400 disabled children, and is equipped with a full-time school and medical centre.
Ramesh said: "There are separate wings for deaf, blind and the mentally ill. We also provide training for disabled girls in general household tasks, as life can be particularly tough for them."
Ramesh and his team do not claim a penny for their own costs so that all their hard work directly benefits the children.
He said: "It costs an average of £120 per year to pay for one disabled child, while the very seriously disabled cost £250. This is not a lot and we want to help as many children as we can."
To sponsor Shival or Ghansham, call 020 8361 2475, or visit www.yeswecare.org
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