TORONTO: “Canadian children should be able to receive all the medical care they need in their own country.”
That plea came from Kartar Singh Ahluwalia (51) currently on a trans-Canada run to raise more than $15 million for child medical care.
Ahluwalia has completed 3,400 kms of the 9,100 km mara thon. He arrived here during a heavy rain storm, on 110th day of the run. The leading citizens of city, amongst whom Art Eggleton the city mayor, was present gave Kartar a rousing reception. They praised his fine effort on behalf of children across Canada. There were visits to the gurdwaras in the Toronto area. The run is traveling through the cities of Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington to Hamilton and then on to Kitchner and Guelph.
Kartar Singh Ahluwalia Is a Vancouver businessman who has lived in Canada tor 22 years. He was born and raised in the vicinity of Jullundur City, Punjab, and for several years was employed by the Northeast Frontier Railway in Assam, before coming to Canada. As a young man Kartar distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete setting records in four events during national inter district track meets in Pandu India. As Captain of the Katihar District Athletic team Kartar went on to achieve national status in winning 3 gold medals at the All ‘Assam Athletic Meet in 1965. With the passing of several years and the adoption of Canada as his new homeland, he reverted to his athletic roots to prepare himself for his arduous run across Canada.
After four years of planning, Runner Kartar Ahluwalia a member of the Vancouver Sikh community, left Vancouver B.C., on March 1st following a departure ceremony attended by The Honorable David C. Lam Lieutenant Governor of the Province of British Columbia. Kartar commenced his 9 month, 9100 kilometer journey across the country in St. John’s Newfoundland, on Saturday March 4th at 11 a.m. local time.
He has endured snow, subzero temperatures, heavy rains and blistering heat in a compassionate bid to help critically ill children.
Corporate endorsements, financial contributions and donations of goods and services to the “Run for the Children” have come from Sony of Canada, Concord Pacific Developments, Canada Safeway, Best Western Hotels, Canon Canada Inc., and RadioShack. Letters of support have arrived from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne; The Right Honorable Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada and the Provincial Premiers from all Canadian Provinces.
The SAVE OUR FUTURE, RUN FOR THE CHILDREN SOCIETY was formed to conduct a high exposure, cross Canada Run in an effort to increase awareness of specialized medical needs for children. The Run was inspired by the courageous struggle for Baby Paul HoIc, the world’s youngest heart transplant recipient who, at age 3 hours, received his new heart in Loma Linda Hospital, California. Daily we hear news about children needing liver transplants, kidney transplants, bone marrow transplants and other forms of radical lifesaving treatment.
“I was inspired by Terry Fox and I realized that nobody had run for children, so I decided to run for them,” he said. So far the run is going very good. The response is very good too.”
He said he had no doubt he will reach the $15 million target’
Article extracted from this publication >> July 7, 1989
