Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand will be playing a game of chess closer to heart, next Sunday, in Chennai.
Anand, who is the ambassador and spokesperson for Vidyasagar -- a NGO for children with cerebral palsy, will play a simultaneous exhibition against 40 people on October 8 in Chennai. Tickets are available for the general public and all the proceeds from the event will go to Vidyasagar to help people, especially children, with cerebral palsy.
If you would like to be among the lucky 40 who could have a shot against the genial genius while at the same time contributing towards a very worthwhile cause, just read below.
The ticket price for each of the 40 spots is Rs 6000 which includes a fabulous brunch for 2 persons and a chance for one of them to play the world chess No.2. The ticket price to attend the event is Rs 3000, this includes a fabulous brunch for 2 plus a chance to interact with one of India's all time sporting greats.
Midway through the event there will be an auction of an ornate wooden carved chess set, that will be personally autographed to the successful bidder, by Grandmaster Anand, on the spot.
The proceeds from the event will go towards the various projects that Vidyasagar undertakes to help in the inclusion of people with cerebral palsy in society.
This event, billed as "Vishy vs Everybody!' is the sequel to the "Vishy vs Chennai", event held last July.
In the first edition Anand played against ninety-three people who not only came from Chennai, but also from Bangalore, Tirupur and other southern cities. Breaking a previous record of fifty people, Anand battled ninety-three inquisitive minds well into the wee hours of the morning. The proceed from last years event went towards providing wheel chairs for 65 children apart from other orthotic aids that were urgently needed for the children at Vidyasagar.
"To me coming to Vidyasagar, is a very special feeling. It is a place where behind a child's laughter there is a story. Our responsibility is to make each of these stories have a happy ending. Cerebral palsy by itself is a complex problem, and each child's condition is a unique challenge. But from what I have seen, these children have extra ordinary talent in certain areas and if we can just show them a way to express that, we have done that little something," said Anand on his association with Vidyasagar.
Vidyasagar, which started in 1985 with 3 children, is now a Government aided NGO that works relentlessly towards the education, employment, inclusion and empowerment of more than 3000 children and adults with disabilities ranging from Cerebral Palsy and Learning Disabilities to Mental Retardation, Autism and Mental illness.
Vidyasagar looks at the whole spectrum that is, from neo-nates to adults and from mild disability to profound disability. Vidyasagar also works towards their therapeutic needs in terms of physio, communication and occupational therapy.
The underlying objective is to facilitate the inclusion of disabled persons into the mainstream of life and that is achieved through innovative projects - the advisory and Referral Clinics, Family Based Rehabilitation, Day Centre, Employment Education Centre and Human Resource Development. Vidyasagar works with 37 partners in rural South India.
For book your tickets for "Vishy Vs Everybody!" please call 044-22353757, 22354784, 22354785 or visit:
Vidyasagar
#1, Ranjith Road
Kotturpuram
Chennai - 600 085