Happy Feet Home Made of Great

Riddhiculous happy feet home Happy feet home

A dusky girl, sitting amidst giggling kids, clad in a salwar kameez with dark kajal lined eyes smiled and waved at me. Perhaps that was and will always be my first recollection of Mansi Shah. A young highly energetic and lively girl who is definitely #madeofgreat.

Switch to Mr.Goldilocks a.k.a. Abhishek Tatiya. The most carefree soul I have ever met. Dancing on the tunes of “dhinka-chika” with 8-9-year-old terminally ill patients. I first spotted him busy playing with a few kids at St. Jude’s Cancer Research Organisation Mumbai. Both of them were literally glowing, and their smiles reflected in their eyes and the zest they held matched the kids.
It is true that you meet so many people in your lifetime but, there are only a few who leave a mark. Those are the ones who are #madeofgreat. They with their work, prove to the world that they are made for great things.
Meet Mansi Shah and Abhishek Tatiya who started Happy Feet Home, India’s first hospice for terminally ill children, a place which fills happiness in the lives of kids with terminal illnesses.

Just think about it, if a child has just a week left to live, Happy Feet Home Team make sure that it is the happiest week of his or her life. Dying is not a laughing matter but, it can certainly be made peaceful and happy for others.

Their journey to Happy feet Home has not been easy. It has been full of ups and downs. I had first met Mansi and Abhishek at a Sing A Smile event, where a bunch of us, young, energetic, mostly out-of-tune people  (along with a few musically inclined ones) trying to sing for people and bring a smile on other’s face. It was the brain child of two great fellows from college (Akash Uba and Kunal Chaudhary). We all thought of it as the best way to spend a weekend after the mind throttling weekdays spent in the office.
However, Mansi Shah and Abhishek Tatiya were different than all of us. They were not there because they were taking a break or trying to find their ways. They were the only ones who knew what they wanted to do. Mansi worked with the NGO Akanksha when I had met her for the first time in 2011 and switched to St.Jude’s in the later years.

If you have read “The Fault in Our Stars” you know the endless questions and moments of grief terminally ill kids go through. Mansi goes through those questions everyday. And she has the answers as well. It is not a place where someone is allowed to feel sorry or sympathise with these kids. But, it is a place where they come and forget about everything sad.

It is not an easy task to take care of a loved one battling with a terminal illness. Happy Feet Home is built on this very premises, on the need for parents of children, who, most often, are their caregivers, to receive support.
Abhishek and Mansi underwent a lot of research and visited many hospitals and other hospices to see how they worked and what all resources were needed. Endless nights and long days of hard work, marathon meetings, shameless networking and countless questioning lead to India’s first hospice Happy Feet Home.
India’s first hospice for children was set up in Sion in Mumbai and was started with an intake of 35 children on August 14, 2014. More than 10 lakhs rupees came through crowdfunding.

Every child who comes to Happy Feet Home knows that his or her days are numbered due to their health condition, yet they are infused with an undying enthusiasm and joy.

Going through “Tata Motor” #Madeofgreat campaign, I realised how Tata has always been associated with the pillars of trust and goodwill. Tata as a brand name is something that my parents will swear by and narrate anecdotes of how things changed because of their innovations and dedication followed by Tata. Lionel Messi as a sports icon is a great role model and inspiration.
Mansi and Abhishek’s story is a story of the power of an idea and how they turned it into reality. They have proved that young India can move mountains with faith, hardwork, discipline and will to live their dreams. One needs to dream and have the courage to live the dream.
Both of them will always be dear friends to me. But you will also be the people whom will be exemplars for people who dared to live their dreams and succeeded.
I might not have said this personally in so many words, Abhishek and Mansi you are #Madeofgreat. It is what drives you to do things differently that makes you great.
FB page – https://www.facebook.com/HappyFeetHome
Twitter Handle – @happyfeethome

15 Comments

  1. Really Abhishek and Manasi are #madeofgreat and my sincere SALUTES from innermost heart. Their deed is worth to be written in gold. Three cheers to Happy Feet.

    As to association of Lionel Messi I am of the opinion that Tata motors has found a real gem and their combo is slated to do wonders. Keep it going.

    Reply
  2. Indeed a nicely written post. I wish you good luck for the contest
    Here is my answer
    The association of Tata Motors with Lionel Messi is that of two greats. Lionel Messi has been exceptionally talented who with his hard work, determination and sacrifices has got better and tougher in his chosen sport so is the Image, reputation and quality of TATA Motors that have transformed brilliant ideas into masterpieces of engineering and created a brand and products that we are so proud of as Indians. Lionel Messi has transformed his body and the mind body co-ordination into a masterpiece of precision and excellence it would not be wrong to say that Lionel Messi is the TATA Motors of sports where as TATA Motors is the Lionel Messi of vehicles both giants in their own spheres driven by the drive to excel and lead by example. So Lionel Messi is the best choice for becoming the brand Ambassador for TATA Motors
    [email protected]

    Reply
  3. Your post describes #madeofgreat so well that it has winner written all over it. Good luck for your entry.
    Here is my answer.
    Like minds think and act alike looking at the track record of TATA Motors it has stood the test of time and built a business that was built using bricks of hard work on a foundation of trust. Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the trademarks of brand TATA Motors. These same qualities are present in Lionel Messi who with his immense talent has made a mark for himself on the international football field .Facing all hardships he has worked hard toiling on the fields and in training sessions facing injuries and pressure to come out trumps and be a winner. Thus these two greats Lionel Messi and TATA Motors are made for each other .There association is a bond of two legends
    In case you pick me a winner my email id is : [email protected]
    Fingers crossed 🙂

    Reply
  4. Your post describes #madeofgreat so well that it has winner written all over it. Good luck for your entry.
    Here is my answer.
    Like minds think and act alike looking at the track record of TATA Motors it has stood the test of time and built a business that was built using bricks of hard work on a foundation of trust. Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the trademarks of brand TATA Motors. These same qualities are present in Lionel Messi who with his immense talent has made a mark for himself on the international football field .Facing all hardships he has worked hard toiling on the fields and in training sessions facing injuries and pressure to come out trumps and be a winner. Thus these two greats Lionel Messi and TATA Motors are made for each other .There association is a bond of two legends
    In case you pick me a winner my email id is : [email protected]
    Fingers crossed 🙂

    Reply
  5. @Rio 🙂 Thank you for your generous comments. 🙂 all the best for the contest.

    Reply
  6. @alok– thank you. Very well put. Tata motors and Lionel Messi is indeed a great combo. Both known for their strength. Looking forward to the magic they create together

    Reply
  7. @hema You are too kind. But yes Happy feet Home is definitely made for great. 🙂 All the best with the comments.

    Reply
  8. What a deadly combination Tata Motors and Lionel Messi is. Tata Motors has shown guts and determination to become a Global Brand in the Auto Industry and to compete with the Heavy weights of the Auto Industry world over. Likewise Lionel Messi has risen to the ranks of the most valued footballer in the world through his sheer hard work,determination and Passion. Thus a perfect combination #madeofgreat. In case you pick me a winner my email id is: [email protected]

    Reply
  9. Your post defines #madeofgreat to the hilt.Very well written and interesting post indeed.
    My Answer
    Tata Motors is a brand that makes durable vehicles, with its MADE IN INDIA mark makes every Indian proud. It is a brand seen globally as Trusted, Reliable, Innovative and at the forefront of technology. In its journey since inception it has overcome all odds, competition, and adversities with grit and determination. These same qualities are associated with Lionel Messi who was very talented and hardworking from a very early age. With each game that he played he kept improving his skills and built a career to become one of the best player of professional football. There qualities make both TATA Motors and Lionel Messi giants who perfectly compliment each other and Lionel Messi the right and perfect Ambassador who stands for the same values that TATA Motors does.
    Contact : [email protected]

    Reply
  10. Your post defines #madeofgreat to the hilt. Goodluck for the contest
    My answer is:
    Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the pillars of strength on which TATA have built a brand that has put India on the global map. It is a brand that has stood the test of time just like Lionel Messi who tackles opposition on the field with his skill,agility,strategy,brilliance and raw power to reach and score a goal so has been the track record of TATA motors who has become a brand leader and a global giant. These qualities make TATA Motors and Lionel Messi perfect partners who stand for the same set of values thus Lionel Messi is the perfect brand ambassador to represent TATA Motors.
    Hope my best to be a winner here; do contact me for the prize at [email protected]
    fingers crossed

    Reply
  11. Amidst people who run behind buying properties, cars and future savings, it is fortunate to hear about such souls. Glad that you could meet them. Fault in our stars have been long pending in my list. I am getting it now. Good wishes Riddhi!

    Reply
  12. Of the thousands of thoughts moving around the Messi-Tata Motors association, here’s a new insight. Messi is also the ambassador for UNICEF for his noble deeds for the betterment of children across the globe. That’s something that truly touched me, more than the football legend in him. On the other side, our Tata Motors could think of making several Indian middle class dreams alive with their Nano. Definitely there’s a touch of humanity behind this. Their association sound to me like humanity meets humanity!

    Nandhini
    https://pagesfromserendipity.wordpress.com/

    Reply
  13. @nandhini , thank you so much for thoughtful comments

    Reply
  14. @mahima we are all just looking back at people who made us feel #blessed. the ones who are making this earth a better place

    Reply
  15. Nicely penned ridflections. I can connect with your Happy Feet Home story. 🙂

    ‘What drives us from within is what makes us great’, This is the founding principle behind the overall brand association between Argentinian Football Maestro Lionel Messi and Automobile Giant Tata Motors. The overall #madeofgreat campaign is made upon a clear cut vision of seeking excellence along with self-belief.

    Tata Motors and Lionel Messi, both are the ones people look up to get inspired. Lionel Messi is an amazingly renowned player with huge fan following across the world While Tata Motors is an Indian company which has achieved global distinction in past decades and appeals as a company with immense potential. Tata Motors stands at a path defining phase of its evolution story with some overwhelming produts planned in future. Lionel Messi with a global appeal complements Tata Motors.

    Thus the association is truly #madeofgreat. Legend and Talent have come together to make a truly fantastic combination. The collaboration will be a win-win for both.

    I may be reached at https://twitter.com/adityakt

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