Rashmi Menon | Deccan Herald
Reena Raju, who underwent a heart transplant, will run the marathon on June 5 to spread awareness on organ donation.
A musician, a former state level hockey player and a proponent of organ donation, Reena Raju is the first person in the state to have undergone a heart transplant and to participate in the upcoming TCS World 10K marathon in Bangalore on June 5. The 29-year-old, who is all set to participate in the 5.7-km Majja run, had also participated last year, just six months after her surgery!
Although she was recently advised by her doctor in Chennai to check about an infection, Reena is determined to participate in the marathon after the test results were normal.
“I am on medication and I have to be very careful about my health but medical reasons have never been a deterrent, once I make up my mind to do something,” she says.
She believes that the marathon will be a good platform to inform people about her recently formed ‘Light A Life — Reena Raju Foundation’.
“The marathon is an opportunity for me to show people what I have achieved post a heart transplant. It is a platform for me to show that I can perform physical activities, like jogging and running, without any problem,” she adds.
Running under the banner of her foundation, Reena says she and her friends will run for the 625 patients awaiting organ transplant.
“Light A Life will be the voice of these patients. I have been through an organ failure and it is very painful. I know what they are going through and I want to do all I can to help them,” she says.
Another reason for participating in the marathon is to dispel myths associated with organ donation.
“People would ask me if my feelings and emotions have changed now that I have a donor heart inside me! After staring death in the face several times in the past four years, this is a reason for me to celebrate life,” she says.
Reena’s nine friends, including her twin and fiancé, had participated with her in the previous marathon to spread awareness about cadaver organ donation.
Recalling the experience, she says, “I had my friends, fiancé and sister trying to shield me from the crowd and from other participants accidentally bumping into me. I am vulnerable to a fall or an injury. I am so grateful for their unstinting support.”
Reena, who is on a steady diet of medicines, is susceptible to infections but that hasn’t deterred her from keeping her routine as normal as possible. “I am a sportsperson on field and off the field. After five years of continuous medication just to stay alive, I now keep myself fit by cycling, jogging and doing breathing exercises,” she informs. And with a gleam in her eyes, she says she feasts on home-cooked food! “I just make sure it has less oil and salt. However, street food is a complete no!” On days when she finds herself too tired and weak to exercise, she plays the guitar and listens to music.
“Live life positively and relish every moment. Life is about choices. If you make up your mind, you can do anything. You don’t need to be extraordinary. When I was in ICU before the transplant, I realised that I had not done anything substantial for anyone. Since then, I have dedicated myself to spreading awareness about cadaver organ donation. Service is definitely the key to happiness,” she says.
Although she was recently advised by her doctor in Chennai to check about an infection, Reena is determined to participate in the marathon after the test results were normal.
“I am on medication and I have to be very careful about my health but medical reasons have never been a deterrent, once I make up my mind to do something,” she says.
She believes that the marathon will be a good platform to inform people about her recently formed ‘Light A Life — Reena Raju Foundation’.
“The marathon is an opportunity for me to show people what I have achieved post a heart transplant. It is a platform for me to show that I can perform physical activities, like jogging and running, without any problem,” she adds.
Running under the banner of her foundation, Reena says she and her friends will run for the 625 patients awaiting organ transplant.
“Light A Life will be the voice of these patients. I have been through an organ failure and it is very painful. I know what they are going through and I want to do all I can to help them,” she says.
Another reason for participating in the marathon is to dispel myths associated with organ donation.
“People would ask me if my feelings and emotions have changed now that I have a donor heart inside me! After staring death in the face several times in the past four years, this is a reason for me to celebrate life,” she says.
Reena’s nine friends, including her twin and fiancé, had participated with her in the previous marathon to spread awareness about cadaver organ donation.
Recalling the experience, she says, “I had my friends, fiancé and sister trying to shield me from the crowd and from other participants accidentally bumping into me. I am vulnerable to a fall or an injury. I am so grateful for their unstinting support.”
Reena, who is on a steady diet of medicines, is susceptible to infections but that hasn’t deterred her from keeping her routine as normal as possible. “I am a sportsperson on field and off the field. After five years of continuous medication just to stay alive, I now keep myself fit by cycling, jogging and doing breathing exercises,” she informs. And with a gleam in her eyes, she says she feasts on home-cooked food! “I just make sure it has less oil and salt. However, street food is a complete no!” On days when she finds herself too tired and weak to exercise, she plays the guitar and listens to music.
“Live life positively and relish every moment. Life is about choices. If you make up your mind, you can do anything. You don’t need to be extraordinary. When I was in ICU before the transplant, I realised that I had not done anything substantial for anyone. Since then, I have dedicated myself to spreading awareness about cadaver organ donation. Service is definitely the key to happiness,” she says.
About the foundation
Light A Life — Reena Raju Foundation has been set up to create awareness on cadaver organ donation. Many do not know that they can gift life even after they leave this world. Reena says, “All of us in this foundation have pledged to donate our organs. We counsel patients on the waiting list for transplants and their families. We create a platform for all to share their experiences and story through Light A Life.” For details, you can visit the website www.lightalife.in.
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