An Adventure expedition with a mission

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An adventure expedition with a mission
PROJECT HIGH>>>WAYS

By: Dr. Ritu Bryant Joseph *

Foreword

To drive across India by myself as an expedition was there in my mind for a long time.

In the past 3 years I have undertaken drives --- with Pune as base to Bhutan, part of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and within Maharashtra, Konkan etc.

Dr. Ritu Bryant Joseph giving a lecture on Breast Awareness.

In November 2005, to celebrate my 5 years post cancer survival, my daughter Tista & me traveled to mainland Gujarat and Kutch and part of Saurashtra a total of 5130 Kms. in 19 days. This was like a trial run, for the forth coming all India venture.

In all my treks and tours I have come in close contact with a lot of people from all walks of life - from technosavys to boatmen, from cities to hamlets. In my individual level I have conducted dental camps and awareness camps on oral and breast cancers. Though the women folk in all areas are initially shy and hesitant they are keen to know more, so evolved the PROJECT HIGH>>>WAYS which is about...

1 Solo driving across the four tips of India.
2 Through this adventurous drive I want to spread awareness (through visuals to overcome language barrier) to as many people as possible and...
3 In doing so, be a motivation to those in various stages of not only this disease but all scary diseases.

I am glad to have Tista, my strongest support and Vandana who has teamed up with us in our attempt. Our parents friends, acquaintances, strangers have directly and indirectly given us the necessary boosts.

My endeavour to drive solo across the country with mission HIGH>>>WAYS was flagged off on 01/04/06 from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and will culminate in the 3rd Asia Pacific 'Reach to Recovery' International Breast Cancer support Conference on 06/Nov/2006 at the Hilton Towers, Mumbai.

We need all possible encouragements to make our journey safe and our mission successful to plant awareness, motivation and a smile...

Miles to go under blue skies

Ritu

An adventure expedition with a mission
PROJECT HIGH>>>WAYS

All India Cities/Rural/Tribal belts

An adventure sport solo drive from Pune (Maharashtra) to the four tips of India.

Through this roller coaster adventure drive I want to motivate cancer patients and survivors to drive on the HIGH>>>WAYS of life exploring their inner strengths and spirits. I want to instill hope in all to celebrate health and life specially those who are touched by this illness.

The mission is to conduct Awareness Camps on Breast, Oral and Cervical Cancers. Personal interaction and dispelling myths will be focal to the project along with teaching self examination and information/material dissemination regarding the disease to the far flung areas.

The team -

On the driver's seat - Dr. (Mrs.) Ritu Bryant Joseph is spear heading this solo drive across India with the concept of linking adventure sport with an awareness campaign.

The Team with GoC Kochekan

This 47 yrs old a dental surgeon, is an adventurer by heart, who loves challenges and never misses an opportunity to cheer other cancer patients. Has scaled mountains, Para-trooped and sky-dived. Avid Photographer.

In the past 3 years she has driven a total of 30,000 kms cross country in India & Bhutan. She is a cancer survivor herself and has completed 5 years of survival. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Sept. 2000.

ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO CROSS HIGH MOTORABLE PASSES eg. SELA, ROHTANG, KHARDUNGLA, SIKKIM HIGH GRADIENT PASSES.

Ms. Tista Joseph, 14 yrs old. Amateur photographer and Videographer/Navigator and adapted to travel in all remote areas like Leh/Laddakh/Kutch/Bhutan etc. Has keen interest in environment and wildlife & a great asset in conducting these camps. She has seen her mother through the illness and bonds well with families of suffering patients.

Ms. Vandana Natu, 30 yrs old. Professionally a writer and a filmmaker from Mumbai. Currently working on her book. She was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer in March 2005 and has completed treatment In Oct. 2005. Recently out of treatment, would like to reach out and connect.

This project will culminate in the 3rd Asia Pacific 'Reach to Recovery' International Breast Cancer support Conference on 06/Nov/2006 at the Hilton Towers, Mumbai.

People are most welcome to join us in this drive by either attending these camps or linking up and peeling off at various destinations as suitable to them in their vehicles.

Main Itinerary - Total appx. 25,000kms

Distance covered so far - 10,700 Kms plus Heights covered -15500 ft above sea level

Routes-
Pune - 1st April, 2008 - June 30m, 2006

Schedule A.
Pune - North East-Sikkim - Bhutan (optional) - East Coast - West Coast- Pune.
Duration - 3 months

Schedule B.
Remaining India (North - Leh - Laddakh- J & K - HP - Uttaranchal -UP- Punjab - Haryana -Rajasthan - Gujarat) Duration - 2 months.

Schedule A Organised Camps/ad hoc Interactions - (done till now)

No. of camps - 55
Appx. Attendance- 10,000 plus
Highest Altitude camp - 12700 ft at ITBP post Sungatser, Arunachal Pradesh

Maharashtra
Ahmednagar, Akola, Karanja Ghadge, Nagpur

MP
Khatiya, Mocha, Kanha National Park

Chattisgarh
Raipur

West Bengal
Bankura, Shantiniketan

Arunachal Pradesh (26 camps all over)

Meghalaya - Shillong (5 camps)

Nagaland - Rangapahar (Dimapur), Tsosinyu

Manipur - Maram, Jwalamukhi, Leimakhong, Moreh, Moirang, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Motbung.

Schedule A Camps - (Tie ups in progress)
Assam, Sikkim, North Bengal
East Coast (Orissa/AP/TN)-West Coast(Kerela/Kamataka/Goa/Maharashtra)

Schedule B Camps - To be charted out after successful completion of Schedule A.

Back up support required as follows -

To raise funds for our ongoing mission, donations In cash or cheques are most welcome as this project will go on for six months. Keeping in mind the tremendous response, we would like to reach out to as many people as possible.

Donations can be made in the name of either 'Cancer Patients Aid Association, Murnbai of 'Dr. Ritu Biyani Joseph. Kindly write 'Project Highways' at the back of the cheque.

- Individuals/NGOs/Border or other organizations networking help for conducting camps

- Sponsors for Financial tie ups - For further queries/detailed itinerary and support kindly contact -

Pune

Dr. (Mrs.) Ritu
+91 20 25671034(clinic)
[email protected]

C/o Prof. R.S Biyani
Flat no.1, Lalita Mahal,
Nilgiri Lane, Baner Road,
Pune - 411007

Maharashtra

Ms. Vandana Natu
+91 98922 59455 (mobile)
vandana [email protected]

C/o Anagha Nlgewakar
9 Shanti Niketan
Kashinath Dhuru Marg
Dadar (W)
Mumbai - 400 028

Sponsors
Women's Cancer Initiative - Tata Memorial Hospital, Murnbai- 022 24901014 (Devika Bhojwani) Ford Motors (India) Hindustan Petroleum Co. Ltd.

Co Sponsors - Autocar, AWWA HQ 3 Corp, Tata AIG Insurance, 20 Assam Rifles

Many thanks for their support-

-Cancer Patients Aid Association, Mumbai-022 24924000/098200 37718 (Shubha Maudgal)
-JWT Murnbai
-Rajdeep Group of Companies Ahmednagar, Orange City Hotet Nagpur, Pugmarks Resort Kanha
-Mr. P. Lokhande DC Lohit & Anjaw district, various officials, NGOs, Individuals
- Arunachal Pradesh
-Friends & well wishers from across the country- Civil & Uniform setups

* Dr. Ritu Bryant Joseph contributes to e-pao.net for the first time.
She can be contacted at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on June 15th, 2006

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