As a teenager, Surya (name changed) dreamed of serving the nation as a soldier. He trained relentlessly, rising before dawn, and cleared the physical tests. A clerical error in his documents abruptly ended his dream. Tragedy struck again when the 19-year-old met with an accident, resulting in spinal cord injury that confined him to a wheelchair.

Surya withdrew from the world—afraid of pity, questions, and judgment. His lowest point came when his mother, his strongest supporter and primary caregiver, died unexpectedly from a snakebite.

CMC’s rehabilitation team never gave up on him. They persuaded him to attend the Rehab Mela, where he saw other people with spinal cord injuries living independently, working, travelling, and playing sports. Hope returned. Life, he realised, is still possible.

Today, Surya works full-time at the Worth Trust in Vellore, manufacturing mobility aids. He lives independently and supports his family with dignity.

There are many others like Surya waiting for a chance to believe again.

Friend, by supporting the Rehab Mela in February, you can help rebuild lives, restore confidence, and create pathways to independence. Every contribution—big or small—truly transforms a life.