The Hindu : Karnataka News : Celebrities play golf for a cause

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Celebrities play golf for a cause

Staff Reporter

Funds raised will go to NGOs working for underprivileged children, AIDS- affected

BANGALORE: Mark Twain said: "Golf is a good walk spoiled", but Airtel seems to think otherwise.

The Vision of India, a humanitarian organisation that organises fund-raising events for charity, has teamed up with the mobile service provider to present on Saturday, Airtel Celebrity Golf, an event to raise funds for non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The organisations that stand to benefit from the event are Khushi, an NGO for underprivileged children; Parikrama, an NGO that provides education for the underprivileged and Chennai-based YG Rcare, a free hospital for AIDS patients.

Deepak Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer of Bharti Cellular Ltd., feels that the fun factor should not eclipse the real reason the event is being conducted. "This is not just a sporting event, this is an event with a cause," he said at a press conference announcing the event.

Syed Kirmani, Prasad Bidapa and Arundhati Nag were present. "This event can provide the participants with an encouraging atmosphere to make a constructive contribution to the cause," said Ramaa Shankar, founder of The Vision of India.

"We chose golf since the sport requires a lot of reflection, fitness and discipline," he said.

As part of the event, celebrities from the sporting and entertainment fields such as former cricketer Kapil Dev, billiards champion Pankaj Advani, athelete Anju Bobby George, Revathy, Madhavan, Syed Kirmani, Mandira Bedi and a host of others will team up with the city's corporates and golf enthusiasts at the KGA golf course to indulge in a few rounds of what Syed Kirmani calls "a true gentleman's game."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka