Milind's marathon: Running for a cause

Can't refuse Mrs Chitnis

MSSI has 7 chapters all over India and is affiliated to the MS International Federation along with similar societies from 42 other countries. Milind Soman, when contacted says, "It's a privilege to be associated with something like this."

Why did he decide to associate his name with this cause? "Mrs Chitnis asked me to be involved and when she asks you to do something you can't refuse!

Also it was a disease that I know nothing about so I wanted to learn. Right now multiple sclerosis doesn't have a lot of people creating awareness — it's not a high-profile cause like HIV so they need all the help they can get."

Sheela Chitnis, Honorary Secretary and National Coordinator of MSSI, says, "Initially diagnostic methods weren't good but with MRI today more and more cases are being diagnosed and treated properly. My husband, Mukund was a MS patient and was MSSI's first patient in India with whom we started."

Devoted to the cause

Talking about Milind Soman's involvement, she says, "It's been five years that Milind got involved with the project. There was a cycle rally at Shivaji Park to raise awareness and I just approached him.

Today he is totally devoted to our cause and comes to meet the patients at our office.

Milind is really moved by the MS patients' plight and is very sincere in helping us. Even his mother and sister are involved. The tragedy is that compared to cancer, the visibility of MS patients is not that high and neither is the awareness."

Milind Soman has already donated one lakh to the society. Says Mrs Chitnis, "I never requested it. He himself brought the amount saying he wants to donate for our camp. It came as a pleasant surprise to us. We use the money to provide services."

Besides Milind, Apurva Agnihotri and Shilpa Saklani (whose father suffered from this disease) and the cast of Maratthon, Bikram Saluja, Purab Kohli, Prashant Chainani and Sameer Dattani will also be participating in the Dream Run (7 km).

Producer Vicky Tejwani has also donated Rs. 1 lakh. MS patient Rajiv Virat from Delhi, who was recently won the Delhi Half Marathon 2005, will also be participating in wheelchair event (3.5 km) for the cause.