VT Seva Detroit Youth-Led 5th Annual Walkathon

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi

On a bright and uplifting morning, the VT Seva Detroit community gathered for the 5th Annual Walkathon, walking together not just for fitness, but for hope, healing, and compassion. This year’s walk was dedicated to our Healthcare pillar, with proceeds benefiting Angels of Hope, an organization that provides essential support to families impacted by cancer. We are proud to have supported Angels of Hope for the past 4 years. This 5th year milestone was made possible by the unwavering dedication of our youth leads and volunteers, many of whom have been working with belief, passion, and service for all these five years.

31 Team Leads, 37 days, 177 Participants, 8985 Miles, $4200+ raised, helped families impacted by cancer

VT Seva Detroit's youth once again demonstrated their passion for helping others. On June 6, 2025, the VT Seva Detroit Youth Board officially kicked off this year’s walkathon, bringing together enthusiastic team leaders, parents, and friends. The event was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to connect, learn about the cause, and inspire one another to make the 5th annual walkathon a success.

 Following the kickoff, the youth successfully completed their 5th annual hybrid walkathon on July 12, 2025. The event raised funds for Angels of Hope - A Family Cancer Foundation, which supports Michigan families impacted by cancer. Team leaders encouraged their members to walk daily, ensuring everyone stayed active and engaged in the cause.

Adding a deeply personal touch to this year's event, dedicated team leader Oviya Jaisankar generously donated her hair to Children With Hair Loss, a Michigan-based organization, once again. Oviya shared that she was happy to donate, knowing it would bring comfort and confidence to a child undergoing chemotherapy.

Our wonderful youth team leads are:

Oviya Jaisankar, MI Adventures 23, Sai Sriram Karnati, Raja Ameya Reddy Yeddula, Arya Patel, Teja Cheemalamarri, Arnav Vinjam, Sneha Donepudi, Siddarth Ram, Arya Cheemalamarri, Anirvin Ramanan, Sriyansh Priyadarshi, Dhanvin Donthy, Kishore Parthiban, Anisha Sharma, Ella McCleery, Kushi Kanumuri, Shreya Shetty, Shruthika Pallapothu, Shalini Srinivas, Sanyog Iyengar, Advithi Kothapalli, Sreenika Perumalla, Amogh Mavatoor, Deekshita Chittala, Rathneeshwar Balamurugan, Shreya Sivakumar, David Juncaj, Varun Aerabati, Himanish Pasula and Anvika Perumalla

The day began with a wave of energy as volunteers transformed the venue with colorful decorations & banners. The sound of music and laughter filled the air as participants joined a lively Zumba session. It wasn’t just a warm-up, it was a celebration of life and a reminder that movement, joy, and community go hand-in-hand in creating change.

A special thanks to MI Adventures 23 for their generous donation and for encouraging their followers to join our Walkathon. Your support helped amplify our reach and bring more hearts and feet to the cause. 

We honored our sponsors whose generosity makes our mission possible. Their commitment to healthcare causes and families in need strengthens the foundation of our work. We were proud to present tokens of appreciation, knowing that their support will ripple far beyond this event. Our kind donors who came forward to support our 5th annual walkathon. We are so grateful to Mrs. Sowmya Angusamy & Mr.Senthil Ramaiyah, Mr. Pankaj Dahad from MI Adventures23,  Mr. Sarat Kothapalli, Mrs. Latha Nimmagadda, a referral from Sai Sriram Karnati, and Mr. Suresh Kaku.

We set the tone for the 5th Annual VT Seva Detroit Walkathon with an upbeat Zumba session that had participants dancing, laughing, and feeling inspired before hitting the trail! Thanks to Ketherine Rapaka & Flora Tadepalli for conducting the energizing Zumba dance.

Participants laced up and set off on a 3K walk, every step carrying meaning. Along the route, you could feel the camaraderie of friends, families, and strangers walking side by side for a common cause. The shared goal: to bring tangible assistance to cancer-impacted families through Angels of Hope. To keep everyone refreshed, cold water was available for walkers along the route. Once they completed the walk, participants were treated to fresh fruits and healthy snacks, giving them a tasty and nutritious way to replenish their energy.

The most moving moment of the day came with the cheque handover to Angels of Hope. Joanne LaGraff from Angels of Hope graciously accepted the cheque for $4,270, a gift made possible by our community’s generosity. Joanne explained how Angels of Hope helps families impacted by cancer, and it was inspiring. Our youths were humbled to be part of the great cause. This moment symbolized the direct link between our collective efforts and the families who will now receive vital assistance with everyday needs, transportation to treatment, and emotional support.

On top of achieving the goal of getting at least 4 team members, some team leads exceeded. This year’s winners are:

Team Leads With the Most Members:

Oviya Jaisankar (12 participants)

MI Adventures 23 (10 participants)

Sai Sriram Karnati (8 participants)

Team Leads with Most Miles:

Oviya Jaisankar

Sai Sriram Karnati

Dhanvin Donthy

Individuals with Most Miles:

Druthi Donthy

Vanitha Gopalan

Sai Sriram Karnati

We completed the event by recognizing our participants and winners with certificates. At VT Seva, every hand, heart, and step matters because together, we are stronger. All the team leads received certificates.

This year’s Walkathon would also not have been possible without the parents who sponsored the snacks and drinks that kept all the participants' energy up! Thanks to the parents, Ms. Nandini, Mr.Soumendra, Ms.Subha, MS.Lavanya and Mr.Balamurgan, who sponsored water bottles, fruits, snack bars, and cookies. Thanks to Ms. Veena & Mr. Jaisankar for sponsoring decoration items.  Thanks to Ms. Veena for always help us with the decorations.

Thanks to 𝐔𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐣𝐢 for website creation and for providing support with website maintenance and updates. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with setup to cleanup!

Our wonderful volunteers covered the event from the beginning to the end. Please go through the pictures and videos.

06/06/2025 Walkathon Kickoff Event Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6kiT3Fi1v7a1gjJG7

07/12/2025 Walkathon Event Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XyTvq4RNRjZuu3zy5

Our Healthcare pillar exists to uplift and care for those facing health challenges, and this walkathon was a powerful example of that mission in motion. With every donation, every sponsor, and every walker, we are not only raising fund, we are raising hope.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who joined us, supported us, and believed in our cause. Together, we can walk towards a future where no family faces cancer alone.

Reflection from a few of our walkathon team leads!

Oviya Jaisankar:

This was my 5th year participating as a team lead in the Walkathon. I am always so excited for this event because of how much of an impact it can have on the people who are in some of their roughest patches. This year, I was able to recruit 12 members to join my team and walk toward making a difference in the lives of those impacted by Angels of Hope. I had such a great experience reaching out to people I knew and explaining the cause in order to get them to support the Walkathon as well. This project inspired me to help those impacted by cancer even more, so I decided to cut my hair and donate 10 inches to an organization that makes wigs for patients going through chemotherapy. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve and contribute to a cause that touches so many lives. I can't wait to impact even more lives next year!

Sai Sriram Karnati:

Taking part in the Walkathon in support of Angels of Hope, an organization that aids families affected by cancer, was an incredibly fulfilling experience. Beyond the physical effort, it was the chance to make a meaningful impact on a cause I deeply care about. The knowledge that our participation directly benefited cancer families and helped spread awareness gave the event a deeper purpose. Earning second place reflected the hard work and commitment of my entire team. I'm truly grateful to VT Seva and Angels of Hope for allowing me to be part of such a powerful initiative.

Arya Patel:

I’m truly grateful for this experience. Not only was did I help the community but I grew and attained skills that I can utilize for the rest of my life. I learned how to be persuasive and encouraging. I had 6 teammates and accumulated over 295 miles total. I learned how to bring people together. They all put in a small amount of money but together we have made a large impact. I can’t wait for next years walkathon!!

Teja Cheemalamarri:

This is my 5th year as a team lead at the hybrid walkathon partnered with Angels of Hope. I am very grateful to VT Seva for the opportunity to fundraise and support cancer patients. After stories of the stress of paying for cancer treatment, I am more driven to contribute to this great cause. I also believe child obesity is threatening the health of the future, so this event has been great in raising awareness with each of our steps. I found the yoga session last year, and the dance session this year is a fun way to stretch and warm up!

Arya Cheemalamarri:

This is my 5th year participating in the VTSeva Detroit walkathon as a team lead. I initially joined this event years ago during lockdown after learning the help we can give to fellow members of the community facing crisis during cancer, while also wanting more physical activity that came with the walking. After years of participating in the walks, I was and still am amazed by how much of a positive effect this event has had, not only on my physical health, but the health of the community as we become more active and fit in the sake of helping others. I am always grateful to VTSeva for providing me with this opportunity to fundraise for patients and families facing cancer so that we can all have support for our health as a strong community.

Siddarth Ram:

Participating in the walkathon was a meaningful and rewarding experience. I organized a team by signing up my family and friends, encouraging us all to walk together for a great cause. Tracking our miles gave us a shared goal and sense of unity. It was inspiring to know that every step we took helped raise funds for Angels of Hope, supporting families affected by cancer. The event not only promoted physical wellness but also highlighted the power of community involvement. I'm grateful I had the chance to contribute to such an impactful mission through something as simple as walking.

Anirvin Ramanan:

The walkathon in support of Angels of Hope was a very meaningful experience. I was proud to surpass the team goal and bring in 5 generous participants. It was great knowing our efforts can bring hope to those who need it most.

Kishore Parthiban:

Taking part in the VTSeva walkathon was a wonderful experience! Engaging with other people and motivating them to register was awesome for building good communication and leadership skills. Being part of something positive and learning and growing with the process was fulfilling. The cause, the people, and the energy of the walkathon made the experience priceless and worthwhile!

Ella McCleery:

Throughout the course of this walkathon event, I have discovered so much more about what volunteering can be. This event was so different from any volunteer work I had done before, especially in magnitude. To have an effect on such a huge problem, such as cancer, had never felt achievable before I started this walkathon. And to be able to put in effort and have fun at the same time was amazing! This walkathon has been such a good experience, and I simply cannot wait to see and participate in planning future events like this one!

Kushi Kanumuri:

I am so grateful for this opportunity of not only getting to be a part of, but also helping others get involved in such an amazing initiative. Getting to talk to strangers and lead a team helps strengthen so many key skills. From communication, to leadership, and even rejection you experience it all. And the best part is, you are promoting a good cause, so whether you get a yes or no, the outcome is either more donations or a lesson for yourself as you continue to develop your skills. Luckily for us, both of those are good outcomes. Angels of Hope is such a wonderful organization, and I have donated to them before, but I always love how the walkathon leaves you feeling like you contributed in a more significant way. The feeling of creating your own team makes it that much more memorable since it feels more like “I helped lead this” compared to “I participated,” and the difference is quite astounding. Watching the donations that you helped gather add up is truly a surreal feeling, and I look forward to it every year. I can’t wait to do it again in 2026.

Shreya Shetty:

Being part of the 5th annual walkathon was a really meaningful experience. It gave me a chance to reflect on how privileged I am and reminded me of the importance of giving back. This event always pushes me to support the community, along with focusing on improving my own health through consistent walking. I’m really grateful I got to participate this year, and I’m looking forward to doing it again next year to continue supporting families affected by cancer

Sanyog Iyengar:

This walkathon was truly amazing, the amount of money we raised was eye-watering, and walking gave me the time to reflect on my time in SEVA and how impactful it’s been on my life!

Deekshitha Chittala:

The walkathon was truly a great experience for me, and I’m so glad that I was not only able to participate in it but also to be a team leader. It was my first time participating in this event, and it was really fun and eye-opening. It helped me understand the little things we can do in our community to help big causes like cancer. I will definitely use this event as inspiration for future initiatives in VTSeva and further.

Rathneeshwar Balamurugan:

The VT Seva Walkathon experience was very meaningful to me.  Walking with friends and families for a cause greater than us reminded me of the great wealth derived from working together in oneness of heart and compassion.  Each step together seemed meaningful, connected to each person in the fight against cancer.  Furthermore, the experience and togetherness gave me an appreciation for my own health and the community.  On top of that, witnessing youth step up to lead, document their teams, and create awareness was an awakening for me.  These experiences also motivated me, and I think perhaps it point to the small contributions of individuals becoming great when multiplied by enough people.  I appreciated that the walkathon was not just raising money; it was raising hope.  I was very proud to be part of the experience of the walkathon and look forward to the future.

Varun Aerabati:

 This walkathon gave me the chance to have a fun time walking with friends, and it gave me the opportunity to help the families impacted by cancer in Michigan. In addition, the walkathon also taught me a lesson that it is important to help others who are not as fortunate as we are, and in the end, I enjoyed the walkathon and it made me feel good after I helped others.

Himanish Pasula:

This was my first year doing a walkathon, and I enjoyed it a lot! I love the idea of connecting fitness with a good cause. A difficulty I had during the recruiting process was convincing people to join my team. To overcome this, I began asking only people who enjoy fitness and have helped me in various ways in the past. Overall, I enjoyed the walkathon, and I cannot wait for next year’s walkathon!

Priya Jaisankar:

As a lead mentor for VT Seva Detroit’s youth-led walkathon for the past five years, I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of our youth while helping families impacted by cancer. Each year, I’m proud to see our youth learn about the cause, speak up with confidence, recruit team members, raise funds, and strengthen their communication skills. I’m thankful for our partnership with Angels of Hope and the meaningful difference we’re making together in our local community.

Blog Written By: Priya Jaisankar

Video By: Rathneesh Balamurugan & Oviya Jaisankar