NDTV-Fortis More To Give Walkathon 2018 garnered huge support across India with nearly 7.3 crore steps contributed in 7-cities and online. The event was to raise awareness about the cause of organ donation in India and get more people to take the pledge to become organ donors. This year saw many well known personalities like Rajkummar Rao, Prakash Raj, Raima Sen, Ghazal singer - Talat Aziz, Tennis Player - Kyra Shroff, Rajpal Singh - Former Indian Captain, India Hockey Team and Sartaj, Singer, Song Writer, Actor & Poet, alongwith experts and people from all walks of life, join the Walkathon in cities across India.
Every year, 4 lakh people die waiting for organs in India. The country has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in the the world at 0.8 persons per million. For a country of 1.3 billion that is a dismal rate and so there is an urgent need to inform people about importance of organ donation to save lives of people. Spreading awareness and encouraging people to take the pledge to become an organ donor has been the main objective of NDTV-Fortis More To Give campaign.
Every year around the National Organ Donation Day on November 27, the campaign organises a multi-city Walkathon. People from all walks of life across the nation join the Walkathon to take a step towards organ donation and raise awareness about the cause and take the pledge to become an organ donor. This year the Walkathon was held on November 25 in seven cities - Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram (Gurgaon), Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai.
Here are the Highlights from Organ Donation Walkathon 2018:
And that's a wrap on the Walkathon 2018. Thank you everyone for supporting the cause of organ donation.
The 7-city Walkathon saw people turn up in large numbers and many more contributed steps online to support the cause of organ donation. At the close of the Walkathon over 6.1 crore steps had been contributed.
Chennai walks for the cause of organ donation.
Steps taken during Walkathon 2018 crossed 6 crore at 9am.
Kolkata walks in support of organ donation.
Chennai had an early start this Sunday and came out in huge numbers to support the cause of organ donation.
The 2.5km Walkathon flagged off in Kolkata by actor Raima Sen.
The 2.8km Walkathon is right now underway in Jaipur.
Some of my friends have been saved because of organ donation, so I have realised the importance of this cause closely. I have always been thinking about donating my eyes, but after coming here I want to donate other organs too. One can save up to 8 lives by donating organs. By doing these Walkathons we will raise awareness about this cause. Families are the hardest to convince but they should be okay with it: Actor Raima Sen at the flag off of the Walkathon in Kolkata
Rajpal Singh, Former Indian Captain, India Hockey Team and Sartaj, Singer, Song Writer, Actor & Poet flag off the 2.4km Walkathon.
So far the largest crowds (nearly 7,000 people) have been seen at the Walkathon in Gurgaon. Here are glimpses from the 7.5 kilometre walk which was flagged off by actor Rajkummar Rao and is currently on.
Over 4.5 crore steps taken so far at the NDTV-Fortis More To Give Organ Donation Walkathon.
Earlier, actor Rajkummar Rao flagged off the Walkathon in Gurgaon which saw nearly 7000 people turnout on a Sunday morning to support the cause of organ donation.
People from all walks of life gear up for the NDTV-Fortis More To Give Organ Donation Walkathon.
Jaipur gears up for the Walkathon.
Prakash Raj flags off the Walkathon in Bengaluru.
Over 1.6 crore steps taken so far at the NDTV-Fortis More To Give Organ Donation Walkathon.
Renowned actor, Prakash Raj at the Walkathon in Bengaluru.
Registration counter at Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru where hundreds gathered early in the morning for the Organ Donation Walkathon.
Bengaluru gears up for the Organ Donation Walkathon.
Walkathon being flagged off in Mumbai by Talat Aziz and Kyra Shroff.
Gearing up for the More to Give Organ Donation Walkathon in Mumbai.
People of all ages pledge their organs during the Walkathon in Mumbai.
Tennis Player, Kyra Shroff at Mumbai flag off
Talat Aziz, noted Ghazal singer joins the Walkathon at Mumbai
I love my eyes very much and I want them to be there forever, I will be donating my eyes and other organs. People are mostly worried that what will happen to my body but they must know that nothing will happen, it will only help in saving someone's life: Rajkummar Rao at the flag off at the Gurgaon leg of the Walkathon.
This cause is very important. In a nation of over a billion, the rate of organ donation is very very low and that is the reason causes like Walkathon are extremely important. Only 800 donations have happened last year. People are not aware yet and organ donation is a new subject: Rajkummar Rao at NDTV-Fortis More To Give Organ Donation Walkathon
I will do my bit and want to donate my organs, you should do your bit too: Rajkummar Rao
Rajkummar Rao reaches the venue to flag off the Walkathon in Gurgaon
People warming up in Gurgaon before the flag off.
People register at Gurgaon where actor Rajkummar Rao will be flagging off the Walkathon in some time.
Crowds start gathering for the More to give organ donation Walkathon in Gurgaon.
Every year as part of the NDTV - Fortis More To Give campaign to promote organ donation, a multi-city Walkathon is organised. This year the event is being organised in seven cities: Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram (Gurgaon), Jaipur, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai. Join actor Rajkummar Rao and a part of the Walkathon.
To become an organ donor, take the pledge and apply for the organ donor card. Pledge now: https://sites.ndtv.com/moretogive/pledge-your-organs-777/
In fact India has among the lowest organ donation rates in the world.
The huge demand and supply gap between organs needed for transplants and organs available through donations is why India needs more organ donors.
The number of organ donors in India has gone up in the last four years but given the requirement this is woefully less.
While the requirement is in lakhs, the number of organ donors is less than thousand.
In India 4 lakh people die every year in need for organ transplant
