Octogenarian Bobby Grewal is on a 4,160 km charity walk from Kanyakumari to New Delhi
At an age when most people think about settling down in the comfort of their own homes, Balwant Singh Grewal, a.k.a. Bobby, has chosen to go in the opposite direction and pursue a life of adventure. The NRI philanthropist is now on a 4,160 km walk from Kanyakumari to New Delhi to raise funds for charity at the age of 80!
“I was interested in athletics in school, but it ended when I joined the university. Later, I went to UK for a job and eventually got engaged in the normal routine of life — getting married and having a family. Post-retirement, I was on a plane to America one day and read this book by a lady who had run a marathon. Inspired by it, I thought, ‘I have lived a successful life, given my wife and children a good life and was financially well-settled. So why not do something for myself and live that life I had once wanted ’ That’s how I decided to run my first marathon, a distance of six and a half miles, to raise funds for charity. After that, I walked from Amritsar to Kanyakumari during 2004-05, then a walk from Scotland to London and now, I’m on a walk from Kanyakumari to New Delhi. I’m picking up from where I left my last walk in India to come full circle and it’s called Bobby’s Walk Full Circle,” says Bobby, who is also spreading the message of cleanliness.
Bobby believes in taking life as it comes and making the most of his given circumstances. The way he narrates getting stuck in the Chennai floods proves this. “I hurt my left foot during the walk and when I went to a hospital in Chennai, they advised me rest. Nature just gave me that rest. I also got the opportunity to witness the kindness and dedication with which people were helping out the victims during this time and interacted with schoolchildren,” he explains.
But how does a man his age find the strength and passion to undertake such a strenuous act “Different people choose to enjoy their retired life in different ways, like sitting in front of a TV, gardening or enjoying a glass of beer at a pub. But that isn’t my type of enjoyment. I get up early in the morning, go for walks, meet new people, interact with them... I live in a beautiful village in the UK and go on walks for hours through 500-year-old villages twice or thrice a week. Age is just a number. What difference does it make whether I’m 18 or 80 if I want to walk There are exercise clubs in UK with all the members above 80 years. I know marathon runners who are above 100. They inspire me. I feel it’s better to stay active this way and enjoy life, than holding your knees and complaining every time you take the stairs. I’m not 80 years ‘old,’ I’m 80 years young!” he signs off.
