Funds raised were used to support the purchase of oxygen concentrators, masks, cylinders and other critical supplies.
It was a bright Saturday spring morning on the East Coast of the United States. Yoga enthusiasts across the eastern sea-board were settled on their yoga mats literally holding their breath. They were joined by friends, family and colleagues from other parts of the United States, as well as various parts of India. Participation included like-minded folks from Australia and England as well. The purpose was very clear — Breathe for India — and in the process generate support and awareness of the challenges and needs posed by the second wave of Covid-19.
“We saw it very close here in New York City and understand what a difficult time it is in India,” said Sonalika Ahuja, founder of NYuplift. Ahuja founded NYuplift as a way to galvanize the community and respond to the Covid crisis that ravaged New York last year. But soon her aspirations and reach grew beyond responding to the needs of New York City. She found a perfect partner in Sivananda Yoga Centre, in Gurgaon, India, to raise funds to fight the devastating Covid second wave in India. Funds raised were used to support the purchase of oxygen concentrators, masks, cylinders and other critical supplies shipped across to India.
While the participants in the session donated generously to the cause, they were taught simple breathing techniques for their own immunity and stronger lungs by a senior yoga teacher. The class turnout was impressive with a diverse set of participants — young teenagers, senior citizens, doctors, professionals, homemakers, fashion designers, teachers and business owners. There were several folks who logged in from small towns of India. The response has been inspiring as folks from different walks of life have chipped in, in whatever way they can to help.
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From those who stayed awake late in Australia to high school teenagers who joined the class there was unanimous appreciation of the experience. “Thank you so much to everyone who made this fundraiser possible! It is for such a great cause!” said 16-year old John Williams from Watchung High School, New Jersey. “Since it was pretty late in the night here at first I thought I’ll join for some time but I ended up being there for the whole session (till 12.30 AM) because it was so relaxing and loved every second of it,” said Ritu Bhatia, who joined from Melbourne, Australia.
New York-based entrepreneur and a longtime supporter of NYuplift Sam Jain joined the group and expressed his appreciation as well. Namita Chowdhary, a senior instructor at Sivananda Yoga Center, Gurgaon said, “We are so pleased to see the enthusiasm to support the needs in India at this critical time.”
NYuplift is striving to address the critical needs of the situation in multiple ways. It has a pulmonologist, Dr. Rana Ali, on board from New Jersey. She has been giving medical advice, consultations and treatments to Covid patients virtually from United States to India during these tough times.
“The funds which we continue to raise will also be sent to Rotary International, New Delhi who are very active in their efforts to provide COVID relief to individuals, organizations and hospitals,” added Ahuja.
The initiative was supported by Future Health Professionals Club founded by Nikhil Ahuja, a high school sophomore spreading the word about the event and raising the financial contributions from the community.
Funds raised from fundraisers will be used to donate concentrators to hospitals, various Covid facilities set up and charities. “I don’t have words to express my gratitude to NYuplift and Sivananda Yoga Center, Gurgaon this much needed session on breathing, which in turn was to help Rotary’s effort to provide Covid relief,” said Dinesh Jain, Assistant District Governor of Rotary International District 3011, in the Delhi NCR area.
NYuplift has shipped oxygen concentrators from New York City to multiple cities in India: Delhi, Gurgaon, Calcutta, Mumbai, and hopes to build on the interest of the community and ensure that this generosity grows to make a bigger impact both here in the United States and India.
The mission of NYuplift does not end here and is extending to wherever the need arises. As the mountain villages in Uttarakhand grapple with increasing COVID cases, volunteers from NYuplift’s team in Haldwani are putting together critical supply kits. These supplies are being delivered to small villages and towns on an emergency basis.
READ MORE:
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AAPI airlifts 1,000 Oxygen concentrators to Covid hit India (May 5, 2021)
Mastercard donates $8.9 million to AIF for India Covid relief efforts (April 30, 2021)
$100 million worth US Covid relief aid starts arriving in India (April 29, 2021)
Vinod Khosla offers to help Indian hospitals with import of oxygen (April 24, 2021)