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09/13/2015 11:12 AM

Run4Nepal: Branford 5K to Rebuild School


Branford's first annual “Run4Nepal”5K is set for Sept. 26. Organizers hope to raise $10,000 to construct this type of school building to replace a ruined school in earthquake-damaged Sindupalanchowk, Nepal.Photo Courtesy Run4Nepal

On Sept. 26, Branford's first annual 5K "Run4Nepal" hopes raise $10,000 to re-build Shree Raktakali School in earthquake-damaged Sindupalanchowk, Nepal.

The ruined school is one of 11 in a district that lost everything, and one of more than 2000 schools destroyed when Nepal was hit with a 7.9 earthquake April 25, followed by hundreds of aftershocks and a 7.3 earthquake on May 12.

Branford is home to the state's second-largest population of Nepalese.  In the days and months following the earthquake's first strike, Branford members of non-profit Society of Nepalese in America  rallied here to raise awareness and funds, channeling more than $40,000 (to date) directly to Nepal for immediate assistance. Now, the society is helping bolster the efforts of "Run4Nepal" organizers Saroj Bhandari, Shradha Rana, and Lanna Nawa to help rebuild schools.

"Run4Nepal" event coordinator Shradha Rana said the group's work began this summer to raise funds to rebuild Shree Raktakali School. Efforts have included a kid-powered car wash and a booth, courtesy of Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, at Taste All of the Shoreline.

"Everybody seems very supportive of our cause but it takes time to rebuild," said Rana.  "The school is in a town that is affected very heavily vs. other parts of Nepal. It is totally crippled, there is nothing there.  Now kids also need to go back to school and to have that normal life."

Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy here, Rana was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal and arrived in the U.S.A. in 2007. While her family members back home were impacted by the earthquakes, "...fortunately, my family is not as affected (as) others, and so I took this event as an opportunity to give back to those who are in need," she said.

Run4Nepal event director Saroj Bhandari grew up in Thokarpa, Sindupalanchowk. As a child he attended the school Run4Nepal hopes to rebuild. Bhandari described his childhood town as a "beautiful village." Bhandari came to this country to pursue his studies and will earn his degree in Civil Engineering from UCONN in December 2015.

"Though thousands of miles at the University of Connecticut, my heart didn't ache any less when on May 2015, headlines streamed across television that 7.9-(Richter) scale Earthquake had torn down Nepal," said Bhandari. "Somewhere among the immense spew of mud brick, crumbled rock and broken timber was the home I shared with my family. As I continued to go to school, I couldn't help but feel sorrow for those who had lost everything; homes, schools, jobs, communities. Thousands of children will wake up every day with emotional scars fresh to the touch (and) to a completely new life --- no school, no purpose."

"Run4Nepal" has been organized under the umbrella of Society of Nepalese in America as race host. All proceeds will help enable engineers in Nepal to help reconstruct damaged schools in Sindupalanchowk, Nepal.

Area residents of all ages are encouraged to pre-register for 5K Run4Nepal at

www.run4nepalusa.com by Sept. 23 ($20) and receive a free race T-shirt, while they last. Day-of registration ($25) will be available at the 5K starting line on Hosley Avenue at Hemlock Road on Sat. Sept. 26, with kick-off scheduled for 8 a.m.

For more information, to make a donation or become a race sponsor, visit www.run4nepalusa.com  call (817)-584-7179  or email run4nepalusa@gmail.com