Student raises funds for better brain programs

As Arijit Lodha catches his breath and reaches the last mile of his run by the Bow River, he remembers vacationing in Bombay, India when he was six years old. “One minute I was okay and the next I woke up in a hospital bed,” says Lodha. “I had no idea what happened. I was told I had febrile convulsions and seizures.”

Febrile convulsions occur most commonly in children that are six months to five years old. “There was no underlying cause of my convulsions,” explains Lodha. “For a long time, I was going to the Alberta Children’s Hospital every year to check them.”

Motivated by his experiences as a child, Lodha and his sister started the RANA (Rajasthan Association of North America) Calgary Youth Group and organized the first RANA Calgary’s Diversity Run (above). Organized by youth between 12 and 24 years old, the charitable run raises funds to support brain and mental health programs at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. “The purpose of the run is to raise awareness for mental health in the community and to provide leadership opportunities for members of our youth group,” says Lodha. 

This year’s event, now in its fourth season, was held in Edworthy Park last month and raised more than $25,000 for research programs. Lodha notes, “It was the smokiest day of the summer but we still had over 100 runners participate as well as former CFL running back Jon Cornish. The run means a lot to me because I believe that every child should receive quality treatment. That way they can have a chance at being a kid.” 

Lodha’s hope for 2019 is to raise $30,000, have 150 runners, and create more events with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF). “My goal is to bring awareness to the Indian community and the local community in Calgary,” he says. 

The second-year kinesiology student is studying mind science at the University of Calgary. “I am fascinated by how the brain is impacted by movement. I have a huge interest in childhood stroke research and how it affects children,” Lodha says.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Lodha dreams of being a paediatric neurologist. His dad, Dr. Abhay Lodha, MD, is a member of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine.

In addition to his studies, Lodha volunteers for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Youth Council, the Youth Employment Centre, and the Neuro Inpatient Rehab at Foothills Medical Centre. Driven by his desire to empower young people, Lodha helped create a documentary to raise funds for a school for the visually impaired in Jaipur, India, the town where his mom grew up.

“I want to give back and do as much humanitarian work as I can,” Lodha says.