Taking New York Marathon Charity Running to a Whole Other Level

The New York Marathon, AKA the big enchilada of marathons, took place on Nov. 1.  And this year it seemed charity running was all the rage.  Indeed, 6,000 runners representing more than 75 charities (up from 41 last year) ran the ING New York Marathon marathon this year in hopes of raising $21 million for charity.

Over 6000 Runners in the New York City Marathon Ran for a charity in 2009

But for 28-year old changemaker, Sunkul Soni, running for a charity just  wasn’t enough.  Sunkul didn’t just run to raise money for an established non-profit, he created a GiveForward fundraising page to start his own charity called Girls Can 2, which will build schools in India for girls.

I had a chance to interview Sunkul marathon fundraising, education, gender inequity and the bumpy road of starting a nonprofit.  Check out the interview (originally posted on Play City).

So tons of people run marathons to raise money for non-profits, but I’ve never heard of anyone ever running a marathon to start a non-profit.   You’re actually running the NY Marathon to raise money to start a non-profit called Girls Can 2. Tell us a little bit more how this came about?

It really came about through my mother. My mother, Asha Soni, contributes all of her earnings on an annual basis as a teacher to an all girls school in India. She only mentioned this to me last year but as she told me the story I couldn’t help but become more drawn to the cause. With her help and the help of a few friends, I have begun the process of creating a Non-Profit organization called Girls Can 2. The organization will look to raise funds to help provide materials and facilities needed to educate girls across India

The background for this project began with Mr. Prem Singh Sodhi.  He taught for 40 years in an all boys’ school in his village of Kharar (Chandigarh). He was pained to know that girls of that area were not getting any education, as there were no schools for them.

To make this wrong a right, at the age of 60, Mr. Sodhi single-handedly started an elementary school for girls in the basement of a local temple. To finance the project, he contributed his retirement savings, collected money from friends and old students of his along with his well placed sons. One of his sons was the President of my mothers college, which is how she became involved.

At present there are 525 girls that attend the school, of which 265 are extremely poor and live in rural Punjab (North India). The school ranges from grades one to twelve and covers English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Computer education, Punjabi and Hindi. Currently the school lacks a tremendous amount of funding because the government of Punjab, India has frozen its grant to the school.

This is where Girls Can 2 comes in. This is not a stand alone case in India and I think it is important to help educate those regardless of gender, race, or religion. The organization will look to help fund various schools throughout India that are in a similar situation, and there are several.

Do you feel that there is a significant amount of gender inequity in Indian schools?

Maybe not in the mainstream view but when you break things down and get to looking at who’s going to school and who’s not, its typically the girls that are left out.  In may cases children in poverty stricken areas (large amounts in India) are overlooked regardless of gender.

People ask me if the things they saw in “Slumdog Millionaire” were true.  “Is that really what its like there?  Are people that poor?  Are kids really treated like that?”   Yes-  there are no special effects for those scenes.

Your mother has been a major inspiration in your life.  Can you tell us how she has influenced you?

She’s not your typical Indian woman that’s for sure, weather she knows it or not.  She raised three boys as we moved all over the world (puerto rico, india, saudi arabia).  She let us live and learn, and while education was important, life lessons were just as important.  She always let us do what we wanted if we believed it was the right thing and let us learn from our mistakes along the way.  She gave up her own dreams to raise us- that takes a special person to put others in front of themselves.

Of all causes, what made you focus on education in India as an issue?

I find it funny that we use India for IT and back office support but do nothing to support the education and well being of those we use (hope that made sense)  It’s not educating kids in India, it’s more than that.  These are kids who weren’t even given a chance in society, period!!  We have to understand that an education is entitled to every person that wants to learn regardless of their race, religion, or ethnic background.  What if one of these kids one day creates the AIDS vaccine or a cure for world pollution, what if?

What has the journey been like trying to start your own non-profit?  Do you have any advice for others trying to do the same thing?

It’s been a bit bumpy.  Everyone has a different opinion for every little thing.  I’m lucky to have friends who are lawyers, and accountants.  My advice would be to ask people around you.  If you can have someone who has done this and knows how it works- that’s your best resource.

So about the race – last year you completed the DC Marathon in 3 hrs 43 min and set an ASHA record for their NYC chapter.  That’s a pretty amazing time!  The NYC Marathon is more difficult and this year you plan to beat your time.  What are you doing to train?

With one under my belt I’m doing the same training as last year but mentally i know what it takes now.

Last year was DC. This year is NY?  What marathon will you run next year?

Next year it’s triathlons…I have to give the legs a break.

Gu, Shot blocks or sports beans?

Gu- but i hate taking anything down when I’m running

What will you do to celebrate after the marathon?

I’m flying my mom up for the race so we’ll go out and celebrate as long as my legs can hold me up!!

Any shout outs you want to give to people who have helped along the way?

I definitely want to say thank you to my mom- Asha Soni,  my cousin Samir Batta for his tech help, and all the friends and family who have supported me thus far.