Indian-born man, 71, walks from Melbourne to Sydney cricket venues to raise funds for breast cancer charity

For Dr Prabodh Malhotra, giving back the due is important in life. The 71-year-old Indian-born retiree recently took up the challenge of covering 1,100 kilometres by foot to raise funds for Australia-based McGrath Foundation, a breast cancer support and education charity founded by former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath and his late English-born wife Jane who died of the same illness in June 2008 at the age of 42.

Speaking with SBS Hindi before he began his walk mission on November 13, Malhotra said he is blessed to have achieved a lot in Australia and it is time for him to give some of it back to that country. He aims to reach his destination on January 4, 2023 when Australia take on South Africa in a pink-ball Test at the SCG.

“This country has given me so much, now I want to give back some of it to this country before I leave this planet," the man, who undertook the mission from Melbourne Cricket Ground to Sydney Cricket Ground, said.

Reflecting on his personal attachment to the cause, Malhotra said his elder sister was also diagnosed with the deadly disease in India a few years ago. He said his sister has fully recovered now but the entire experience motivated him to remain committed to the cause.

He came in contact with the McGrath Foundation later and learned more about breast cancer and the support the foundation extends.

Presently, the McGrath Foundation funds 185 nurses who cater to anyone affected with breast cancer and their families with free essential physical and emotional support and plans to fund 250 nurses by 2025.

Malhotra regularly goes for morning walks, SBS Hindi reported, but this was a special occasion for the man. He also arranged for a van and made other travel expenses on his own.

Eyeing to raise a million dollars for the foundation, the veteran also requested the community to back the charity saying that each dollar is used to extend help to the families and women affected by breast cancer by providing specialist nurses from the foundation.

Malhotra plans to walk 25 to 30 kilometres every day and his route includes cities and towns such as Shepparton, Wangaratta, Jindabyne, etc.

Malhotra, who was born and raised in India migrated Down Under in 1980 and did his PhD there. He has published in a number of languages such as German, Hindi, and Punjabi. The man harbours research interests in subjects such as political economy and international affairs, SBS Hindi added.