Anita Choudhrie is a
renowned and celebrated philanthropist who embodies the very notion of charity
and benevolence. She has contributed a major portion of her life towards
charity work, and is determined to continue doing the same. Believer in the
work of Saint Mother Teresa, Anita always wanted to be the change she wished to see in world and thus started Path to Success,
a London based charity organiSation, with the vision to provide funds for the disabled and disadvantaged. Path to Success turned 10 this year, and
Anita threw a grand gala dinner through which she managed to raise £100k to be used for future activities.
Talking of this auspicious occasion, Anita remembered her days of
struggle and said, “I have always wanted to help people
and always admired Mother Teresa. At university in Delhi I was involved in
social aid, working with children with disabilities and with the impoverished.
I started a charity in India 2002 working with children; I always found it a
huge challenge but an amazing experience.
“I set up Path
to Success as an umbrella charity. We help the sick, the homeless, children who
can’t get funding for their education and anyone with physical or mental
disabilities. There are people with so many different disabilities and I wanted
to help them all. Just to focus on one became difficult. It’s so satisfying to
be able to share as much as possible.”
The team at Path to Success also undertook the challenge of helping disabled, and emerged successful. “We collected a lot of data and research in 2012 and launched our ’60
for 60’ campaign to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to support 60 NHS
hospitals from north to south with 60 wheelchairs. But we raised enough money
to buy 83 wheelchairs.”
Anita expressed how this project, that they perceived challenging, was
actually very heart-warming and emotionally rewarding. Anita
expressed how special this project was for them that turned out to be an
emotionally rewarding experience. “We have always championed the disabled.
Wheelchairs can cost anything from £500 to several thousand pounds and over the
years we have helped so many people and made so much difference to so many
lives. I wish we could support even more people.
“We will always
help victims of injury, mental, physical. There is so much you can do for
people now with power-assisted and mechanised wheelchairs, but they are
increasingly expensive. Personalised equipment is helping patients become more
independent, and more mobile. They need funding.”
Mrs. Choudhrie is elated to know that there are multiple charities
functioning across the globe which are self-empowered,
well-kept and have larger goals in mind. Path to
Success was established on the idea of supporting a different charity or cause
every year, but sometimes they extend their support for two years or more if
the situation is grave. This year they are collecting funds for London Titans Wheelchair Basketball
Club and will be extending the support for next year too.
