I met a guy named Chandu George, an Ataxia affected. Ataxia is a condition where in nervous system fails to coordinate some or all the body parts( hands, legs, joints, eyes, spinal chord etc.,). people who are affected with this type of condition , they go blank and life seems to be tough depending on others for every thing. Its tough even to imagine that state of being to Myself even though I am a normal person.
Coming to Chandu, he was affected when he was 15 yrs and people were laughing and making fun of him at his abnormal behavior, this concerned him a lot but there was no cure for this. His elder sister named Nirmala was also affected with Ataxia.They believe that "when you accept yourself first, then only people will accept you".
Its obvious that when a person is affected with such type, not only become physically weak but also mentally. But these people took it as a challange to fight against the fate and started an organisation called SAMAG (www.samataxiagroup.org) with the help of energetic and enthusiastic family, friends and volunteers who wish to support for a cause.SAMAG has received assistance from local Trusts like Confederations Of NGOs of Rural India- CNRI , Mass Institute of Rural Development- MIRD and International Foundations like National ATAXIA Foundation- NAF (www.ataxia.org), which have appreciated our professional work and strategic thinking towards Ataxia and MD sufferers. This support has enabled SAMAG to enhance its public profile to assist and extend to the reach of Ataxians.
The organisation's primary objective is to spread awareness about Ataxia and other Neuro Muscular Disorders and to provide information and counseling to people affected with such type. Chandu the president of Samag with fellow members and volunteers looks into all the aspects of SAMAG. Chandu writes articles on Ataxians and the activities which are carried out by samag, these articles are directly printed on NAF magzines.
There are people around us who are affected with rare diseases but they and their families wont come out due to different types of societal behaviors. Yes, there are people in the society who are of helping hands and people of worst nature & behavior. with these kind of societal pressures they are home arrested.
SAMAG goes to those patients, families and spread a belief that they are one among them and there is a hope in their lives. SAMAG distributes wheel chairs medicines etc and mainly SMILE to those patients who cannot afford them and spread happiness to those families who have lost their hope on life.
Believe me, I saw tears of joy and happiness in those patients when Chandu with Samag team approached them. Now patients from all over the world are in touch with Chandu. His vision is to build a rehabilitation center for the patients affected with such condition. I wish him all the success.
I then realized the value of life. A person no matter how much physically weak he/she is, can conquer this world and touch everyones heart with the will power and wisdom, principles vested in the heart.
