Forgotten Children Worldwide’s Hartsell and Hedden will travel 1,700 miles through India
By DAVE SCHULTZ
Matt Hartsell, the executive director of Forgotten Children Worldwide, and Dave Hedden, a former Bluffton resident who is still involved with FCW, are planning a fascinating “Tuk Tuk Trek” through the nation of India — with an update on the journey during the organization’s benefit dinner and auction on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Hartsell and Hedden will be joined on their journey of nearly 1,700 miles by their driver, Shankar. A tuk tuk — also known as an auto rickshaw – is a small vehicle that will carry the three men through India, with a top speed of 35 mph for eight to 10 hours a day.
Their excellent adventure begins Feb. 8 and will end Feb. 19. Hartsell describes the distance as traveling from Mackinac Island in northern Michigan to Miami, Fla.
Why are they doing it?
“We want to raise awareness of the beautiful country of India and its amazing people and culture,” Hartsell said in a frequently-asked questions brochure. “We also want to raise awareness of some of the obstacles that vulnerable children in India are facing and ways (FCW supporters) can assist them.”
The cities on their journey are Patna, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Hubbali. (Kolkata, it should be noted, is the city that was referred to as “Calcutta” until 2001.)
Because of the cramped quarters, Hartsell figures that he and Hedden will sit together with their legs touching each hour they are in the tuk tuk. He said he’s been working out with an emphasis on strengthening his lower back for the journey.
During the trip, they’ll be providing a video interview from India with a young woman whose life has been “transformed because of the influence of FCW.”
“We have resources,” Hartsell said. “They have needs.”
The hope is that people will follow Hartsell’s and Hedden’s trek through India and will donate to support FCW’s work in India while the journey is taking lace. “The primary goal is to secure 30 new child sponsorships and put 100 girls through FCW’s girl empowerment programs,” the FAQ document said. The secondary goal includes “feeding programs and job skills.”
The FAQ document also says that Tara Cocanower, the Buffton High School history teacher who is the Indiana Teacher of the Year, has created a series of lessons that teachers can use to learn about India while following the journey.
At the Feb. 18 dinner and auction, money will be raised through the auctions, which will be both live and silent. The event, at the Wells County Community Center at the 4-H Park, starts at 5 p.m. Registration is open at www.forgottenchildren.org and tickets must be reserved by Feb. 10.
daves@news-banner.com
