Maroons Charity Walk 2022 – By Nipuna Fonseka
Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – December 2022
On Sunday, 13 November 2022, approximately a hundred Queenslanders participated in a 3 km or 6 km walk around Berrinba Wetlands Park, Browns Plains to raise funds for a worthy cause. The purpose of the walk, organised by the Old Anandians Association of Queensland Inc. (OAAQ), was to raise funds to provide essential nutrition packs for low-income, malnourished pregnant women in Gampaha district of Sri Lanka.
This is the 8th edition of the walk that OAAQ has organised. This event aims to support our community in Queensland & Sri Lanka and was attended by Chief Guest, Hon.Consul for Sri Lanka in Queensland, Mr. Anton Swan.
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In addition to our faithful members, their families and friends, the gathering welcomed many Queenslanders of Sri Lankan and non-Sri Lankan origin. The participants enjoyed a beautiful November morning and were treated to a delicious barbecue lunch prepared by the OAAQ Management Committee.
Prior to the current economic crisis, there were government sponsored programs to provide the essential nutrition for pregnant women. Today, such assistance has been curtailed and with significantly diminished spending power of the population, this has become a humanitarian crisis.
Reportedly, the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka has approximately 3,000 low-income malnourished
pregnant mothers. Consuming the necessary nutrition during pregnancy is crucial to both mother and unborn child. The effects of malnourishment is suffered by both mother and child well after pregnancy. It is well documented how crucial the first 1000 days is for the physical and mental development of a child.
The next generation of intelligent, healthy Sri Lankan children is being destroyed silently. With this crisis situation, OAAQ as proud Anandians who benefitted from a generation of healthy foods and sound education, organised this Charity Walk to raise funds to provide these mothers and their unborn children, the gift of nutrition when they need it most.
The OAAQ would like to thank everyone for participating at the event and for the donations received to date. So far, we have raised over $5000 for this cause. As there are thousands of mothers suffering, we are continuing to take donations to ensure that we can cater for as many as we can. Currently we are able to adequately help 150 women,
If you are keen to help this worthy cause, please visit www.oaaq.org/ maroons-charity-walk-2022 to learn more and donate.
Thank you all in advance for your continued support of OAAQ Maroons Charity Walks.
Nipuna Fonseka
On behalf of OAAQ Management Committee 2022/2023
