Community Spotlight

For last 20 years TeamAIDAsha (TAA) running program has offered the Greater Boston community an opportunity to train for a half or a full marathon and raise funds for grassroots development initiatives in India.

Since 2004, the program has had over 400 runners join the training – many taking up long distance running for the very first time – and complete a half or a full marathon. While achieving something that provides a sense of deep personal accomplishment, the TAA runners have raised close to $1 million for two non-profits: Association for India’s Development (AID) and Asha for Education.

AID and Asha are volunteer managed organizations that support partners in India that work at the grassroots level and have a direct impact on education of children, generating livelihoods for the marginalized, empowering girls and women, building climate-change resilient communities and much more. Close to 95% of the funds raised by TAA are used for these initiatives – a high percentage when compared to other fundraising programs where the costs for managing the program are typically higher.

How did it all start? Parthiv Shah, a transplant from California was looking to join a running program similar to the one in the Bay Area for Asha for Education. As word got around and with common connection between those that had an association with AID and Asha (such as Biju Kalissery), the TeamAIDASha program was born. Jonathan Wyner, an accomplished runner, agreed to coach and a few curious and adventurous folk signed up to run a full marathon!

Each year the program kicks off in April and runners have close to 6 months to train and run a full marathon in the October-November time frame. Along the way TAA offers several clinics for the runners: how to choose running shoes, how to warm up and cool down with appropriate stretches, the best sources of nutrition during training, and how to fundraise. Not only does the program offer the opportunity to be outdoors but also the Saturday long-runs have generated enlightening conversations, interesting debates, friendships, and lifelong bonds.

Anyone can join in on this year’s special 20th anniversary edition:
https://www.teamaidasha.org/signup.html