She is wrapped up in marathon

Would you ever buy a sheet of wrapping paper for Rs 100? You would in all probability if the money is to be used for a good cause, just like the 20 people in Mumbai who shelled out the amount.

Seven-year-old Maya Patel made 20 wrapping paper sheets and sold it to her relatives and friends for Rs 100.

She heard about the Mumbai marathon from her father and wanted, in her own small way, to make a contribution. She donated the Rs 2,000 to Ajay Chauhan, a participant of the GiveIndia charity initiative.

Chauhan is running as a part of the Dream Team, for the Saathi Girls Project. (The Dream Team is a group of individuals who have committed to raise a minimum of Rs 1 lakh for charity.)

“This is not the first time Maya has done something like this,” says Maya’s mother, Hema Patel. “She had raised donations for tsunami victims in 2004.”

Maya, who has an interest in craft, painted the 20 sheets of paper herself.

“I didn’t use a paint brush for colouring. I used my fingers and the sheets looked very nice,” said Maya. “All my friends liked them.”

A student of Bombay International, Maya’s generosity makes her parents very proud. “Even when we are in the car and stop at a signal, Maya always rolls down the glass to give whatever she might have on her to beggars, be it biscuits, pencils, whatever,” says Hema.

“In fact, sometimes she does not even keep her birthday presents and gives them to street children.”

When the Patels, who work for and support the GiveIndia initiative, heard about the charitable organisation associated with the marathon, they knew their girl would be interested.

“The marathon is a well-publicised and special event. Maya wanted to know what it was all about and that’s when her father explained the charity bit to her,” said Hema.