On a mission: Prabodh Malhotra is walking from the MCG to the SCG to raise money for the McGrath Foundation. Photos: Aidan Briggs
As Prabodh Malhotra gets older he wants to make sure that he doesn’t leave the world without giving something back.
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That’s why last year he walked 1100km taking him from the MCG to the SCG and this year he has taken a different path to notch up 1325km and raise money for the McGrath Foundation.
“We don't know how long we can live for. Ultimately we all going to go, I'm 72 and before I depart this world, I want to give something back to the community,” Mr Malhotra said.
“Australia is a beautiful country and it has given me a beautiful life. I've been here since 1980 and this is a small contribution on my part to give something back.”
Thumbs up to a cause: Prabodh Malhotra is trying to raise $100,000 to fund more breast care nurses.
Throughout the trip people have come up to Mr Malhotra intent on sharing with him their own cancer story or their connection to the cause.
“This elderly woman actually came and touched me. She said, ‘I just want to feel that it actually you are here in front of me’,” he said.
“She told me her daughter has had breast cancer and she was well looked after by the McGrath Foundation and that’s why she said, ‘I can’t thank this foundation enough’.
“She wanted to come and support us. She gave a donation and then she hugged me and she had tears in her eyes.”
Sharing experience: Megan Farrell, one the region’s breast care nurses, spoke to Prabodh Malhotra about his journey.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
This type of connection has become a common experience for him as he makes his way across the state lines.
“It's been an amazing experience when you come across people from all walks of life and they want to share stories,” he said.
“Whether they have sister or their daughter or somebody else in their family has gone through this terrible experience, they all tell me how the McGrath Foundation was able to help them.”
During his time in Echuca, Mr Malhotra stopped in at ERH to talk to staff about his $100,000 fundraising goal to help fund more breast care nurses.
McGrath Foundation ambassador and director Tracy Bevan described the journey as a “powerful call to action”.
“Generous support from an everyday Australian such as Prabodh is always special, but the fact he’s chosen to do something so extraordinary is truly incredible,” she said.
“Prabodh’s fundraising generosity will help us get closer to our goal of ensuring no-one misses out on the care of a breast care nurse and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
To help Mr Malhotra reach his fundraising goal people can chip in at https://fundraise.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/fundraisers/prabodhmalhotra/walk-from-mcg-to-scg
Although he isn’t sure if he’ll do this walk again next year, he said his priority was making sure these walks were helping people.
“If this work leads to the betterment of a single person’s life in Australia, I think it’s been worth it and if it leads to inspire some people, that’s a big bonus,” he said.
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