<strong>Canadian Leaders join forces with Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce to raise awareness and COVID-19 funds for India.</strong>

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is partnering with 82 other Indo-Canadian organizations to organise a Virtual Marathon Fundraiser from Coast to Coast - Oxygen for India on Sunday, May 16, 2021, from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm Eastern. The funds collected will be used to send Oxygen concentrators, Oxygen generators and create capacity in India to help overcome the second wave of COVID-19.
The Virtual Marathon Fundraiser has already received the support of Canadian leaders – Ministers, Premiers and Mayors from coast to coast; from the political, community, business and arts industry. Some of these esteemed leaders who will be addressing this event include; Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario), Kelvin Goertzen, Deputy Premier, Manitoba, Victor Fedeli (Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Chair of Cabinet), Prabmeet Sarkaria (Associate Minister, Ontario), Bonnie Crombie (Mayor of Mississauga), Patrick Brown (Mayor of Brampton), Frank Scarpitti (Mayor of Markham), and others.
All the efforts of the fundraiser are aimed at providing an opportunity to the 1.6 million, strong Indo-Canadian community and the 36 million Canadians to participate in this charitable program. The Virtual Marathon Fundraiser aims to raise awareness amongst Canadians and aid in procuring resources for oxygen to India.

The ‘Oxygen for India’ fundraiser is scheduled to go on for 4 hours across social media platforms, and ethnic television channels. With a target of 2 million Canadian dollars; the fundraiser has already received a response from several donors across the country including New Brampton and Manitoba Metis Federation. To double the impact of the donation, key impact donors will match up to 1 Million CAD in donations.
Vijay Thomas, President of The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce said, “As India battles the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, time is of essence and we need to act fast. Hence, the ICCC members have moved swiftly to organise this fundraiser to support India with the resources it needs at this moment. We believe that alone not much can be achieved, but Together, we can do so much more. Hence we are bringing together more than 82 other Indo-Canadian organisations to aid us in this humanitarian effort. Over the years, Canada and India have maintained strong economic, trade and social ties, and this initiative is our way to show that Canada stands with India in these trying times".
Partnerships play a key role in accelerating the mileage of the event. Indian Red Cross Society and the Catholic Health Association of India are the Indian Oxygen Distribution Partners. Panorama India, TiE Toronto, Canada India Global Forum, Mississauga Kerala Association, Kannada Sangha Toronto, G.O.A Toronto, Marathi Bhashik Mandal Toronto and Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre are the Community Partners. Canadian Red Cross, Humanitarian Coalition and Vraj Community Services are the Philanthropy Partners. Tangentia is the Technology Partner and Marketing Partner is Dranding Consulting.