A Nepali; Mother of two Runs 88km to Help Raise Money for a Children’s Hospital in USA

Sushma KC Manandhar during her 55 miles while her daughter cheers her on.

On February 9^th, 2013, a select group of 22 runners ran 55 miles in celebration of the children served at Wolfson for 55 years. A 55 mile runs, approx. 88km; the same distance as Mungling to Kathmandu. And this year too  our own Nepalese Hero Ms. Sushma KC Manandhar helped Wolfson Hospital raise a substantial amount of money by participating in the event ! I think it would be safe to say that no Nepali woman must’ve ever run a 88km run in 12 hours. But for Ms. Sushma KC Manandhar this run was not about adding another feather on the cap. It was about the cause she believed in. Feeling the pain as a parent and having two kids herself, she just had to do it!

As for the Nepalese community in Jacksonville, FL, it was an opportunity to come together and give back to the community. Sushma who led the event for us says, “Running is my passion. I like to push my limits and challenge myself. I always wanted to run a 50+ mile Ultra marathon, but I needed a convincing reason to do so. Once I heard about the Wolfson 55 benefit, I thought to myself – what a great cause, what a great event, what a great movement, what a great start to a 50+ Ultra marathon. It was destiny!” Destiny it was for she, with the help of her friends in the USA and the JaxNepalis community’s tremendous support, helped them raise a whopping $1385.00! She looks forward to supporting this cause every year now on!

Nepalese in Jacksonville are Healthy – She helped build a “Nepal is healthy-JaxNepalis Running Group,” which helps to motivate and inspire other Nepalese towards health and wellness. The same group joined Sushma in her extraordinary effort also on a relay run for the same cause. This team trained for months, meeting every weekend promptly at 7am on Sunday mornings at the beach. The JaxNepalis Running Group in Jacksonville, FL currently comprises of Dharma Acharya, Maina Adhikari, Resham Adhikari, Purna Man Shrestha, Parash Adhikari and Sabin Shrestha.

Relay team and Sushma. Left to right; Dharma Acharya, Maina Adhikari, Resham Adhikari, Sushma KC Manandhar, Purna Man Shrestha, Parash Adhikari, Sabin Shrestha.

JaxNepalis community memebers came out to support the relay team and Sushma during their run.

Also present to support them in their effort were almost the entire Nepalese community of Jacksonville FL! Kudos to your sense of belonging!

Wolfson55 was founded by Paul Wilson, whose newborn son, Luke, faced difficult surgery whiting hours of birth hoping to raise $5,000 by running 55 miles; the age of the hospital during his son’s stay. Over the past three years the event has raised over $1.5 million.

All proceeds raised support the purchase of a 3 Tesla MRI, which is now available in Baptist Health’s new patient tower. It provides clearer, more accurate images, leading to earlier diagnoses and the elimination of certain surgeries and catheter studies. Wolfson Children’s Hospital cares for 10,997 children a year. Every day 135 children are hospitalized and doctors perform more than 11,000 surgeries a year. Motivated by the idea that every child deserves another birthday, it is a celebration of their lives. This symbolic event features 55 children who share their inspiring stories and celebrate with a birthday party.

After moving to Jacksonville FL two years ago I felt like I found my home. Home as we know is the foundation for all good actions and principles, it is where children are brought up in a healthy and friendly environment, which fosters in shaping their future. Whatever be your problems, agitations, agony and turmoil, you are sure to find a solution to all your problems at home. Jaxnepalese are people who are ready to take you in with open arms as soon as you come here. “Home sweet home be it ever so humble” is true for everyone around here. To sum it up, Jacksonville is the most beautiful place that I have lived so far not for its worldly structures but for the people that I now call my family! Like a saying goes “A house is made of walls and beams but a home is built with love and dreams” I think I have definitely found my home!

You can learn more about Wolfson55 at – http://www.wolfson55.org/the-ultras/ultra-marathoner-sushma-manandhar/

Reported by Pankaj Nath Sharma (pankajnathsharma@gmail.com)