I started writing this blog long time back when I joined this group but saved this as draft.
Lot of facts have changed so I should edit the article gramatically and factually to bring it closer to reality.
I was supporting orphanges in bangalore but then found that I am not satisfied by my contributions as I always doubted the intentions of nobel folks running the charity based orphanages.

When I moved to Chicago, I thought I should contribute back to the society in more scalable way. I did some research and found an organization that was contributing to the cause of education, the cause that is very close to my heart. But then the organization rejected my application as it doubted my ability to contribute while sitting miles away; the organization was in New Jersey. I called up the concerned person and he suggested that I should find something in Chicago itself. Wow...how could I be so dumb? I should have done this search earlier itself but then I had thought that not many US based organizations will work in area of education.
So. I learnt a lesson. Not to Assume:)

Anyways, I found sweet little organization ASHA, a group of volunteers spread across the continents and to my liking it is a flat volunteer based org. So no jhanjat but full control. Wow... I joined the group and started attending the session and took part in activities.
Over course of time, I came to know of sister org TEAMASHA, the revenue engine for ASHA.
So, I joined that too.
If I was amazed to find so many young and old ccommited Indians working for ASHA then I was left wondering how TeamASHA makes 15-75 year old people run on road over several months and that too in snow storms and rains.
The way Asha and TeamAsha work is so transparent and simple that I have decided that I will always be an active member of this org and will contribute to the cause in one way or another. After all teamAsha made a fat man like me to run Chicago marathon, no mean achievement. Not for me but for TeamAsha :)

Will write more about my marathon experience and activities in Asha some time later.

I have recently joined an energetic group of volunteers and runners from Asha and TeamAsha. For starters, Asha is an Organization started by few like minded people in US, those who had a vision and those who had energy to bring their aim to fruition. Currently, I am enrolled in TeamAsha, which is a fund raising arm for main Asha organization. Team Asha has many members who are training regularly to participate in Chicago marathon. Fund raising is a very responsible and neck breaking job but Team Asha has made it easy