How Earn Blessings is cycling to give back to the society

Cycling to help harvest rain water. How these two could possibly be tied together can seem like a conundrum. Well, this seemingly twisted tale is actually charmingly simple. A parched terrain in “Mandhar Devi”, a rural pocket, 75kms from Pune. The villagers hope for and anticipate rains, but alas that is always a temporary fix. Looking at the problem at hand, Sevavardhini (an NGO) came up with the sustainable solution of rain water harvesting.

While the solution looked good on paper, the execution was riddled with financial issues. The total cost of the project was about 7 lakhs, and after donations, they found themselves short by 1.5 lakhs. Then, Earn Blessings stepped in, completing the puzzle with that last piece. 11 riders took on the challenge of cycling 154km, from Katraj (Pune) to the Gadagewadi (in Mandhar Devi), for the cause, and raised about 1.1 lakh for the project. Soham says that the best part was that the villagers were completely immersed in this entire process.

This is just one of the many instances where Earn Blessings has been the helping hand that many NGOs look to. Since Jan 2014, they have raised close to 4 lakhs by carrying out 7 rides for a variety of causes – children’s education, aid for HIV+ children, adolescent education programs, water harvesting, hostel facilities for low income group students whose parents are in rural areas, etc. Soham adds, “Along with donations, we have been instrumental in helping NGOs prepare reports, CSR proposals, branding and marketing material for themselves. We’ve also helped NGOs in organizing various events.”

Earn Blessings’ premise is an amalgamation of Soham’s passion for cycling and his innate sense of giving back to society. Soham adds,

The simple fact that we can help people live a better life puts a big smile on our faces, after every event/ride we do. That’s what we call earning blessings, time and again.

The team is a mix of riders and volunteers from every sphere of the society. In line with his philosophy, Soham looks to fill the riders’ team with passionate individuals who love riding and want to give back to society. Soham tells us that riders just keep coming back for more. He adds, “Earn Blessings is now an invariable part of their lives, and everyone who has participated is always stoked about the next ride.” Soham stresses on the fact that he wants people to enjoy the ride, and hence does not set targets for the riders. Cycling enthusiasts can choose their own target to be a part of this initiative.

The rides range from 120km to 150km, and happen over the weekend. While the riders do not gain any monetary benefits from these rides, with the kinds of distances every ride spans, there is an obvious added advantage to riding – you get in great shape. “Hence our tagline, ‘We burn fats, you earn blessings,” Soham quips.

The method and the math

Their approach is fairly simple. They zero in on an initiative they want to contribute towards. This is followed by identifying an NGO through robust background checks. Collating information from the NGO and other sources, they understand the areas that need work, and the funds required for the completion of the project.

To raise funds, they link every kilometre with an amount of money that can be pledged. Soham explains, “For example, let’s say we decide to ride 100kms over the weekend, people can pledge Rs 5 per km. So, Rs 500 is donated to the cause. People can choose the number of riders they want to contribute for, and hence the donation amount goes up. The contribution thus keeps increasing as number of riders increases. ”

Soham informs us that the riders do not gain any monetary benefit out of the ride. To stay transparent, a detailed audited report is published on the website and they are open to sharing expense and donation sheets.

Revenue model

They work on a zero bank balance principal – they want to give everything that they receive. Soham adds, “We collect money from donors and hand over entire donations to the NGOs. We aren’t funded – all the ride and meal expenses come from our pockets – though this bucket can be sponsored (for example, back-up vehicle expenses, meals, & etc.)”

Challenges and the big dream

According to Soham, the only challenge he faces is the lack of participation from youngsters. Since the total amount donated is directly proportional to the number of riders, he is trying to reach out to more people. His game plan is simple – exponentially increase the people involved and link fitness to fundraising.

Soham’s big dream for Earn Blessings is to be the hub for NGOs across the nation. He doesn’t want his good intentions to crash and burn just because of lack of finances. He also dreams of creating an ever-expanding community that adopts a heathier lifestyle, which also helps them give back to the society.

To volunteer, donate, and know more, log onto their website.