John Abraham joins Cure International India’s ‘Treat Clubfoot Today’ campaign

Bollywood heartthrob, John Abraham is a man with multiple facets to his personality. As a model, actor, producer, and director, he has donned several hats with considerable success. One such role is that of a social activist. He has lent his name and support to several noteworthy causes including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Habitat for Humanity which campaigns for “simple, decent, and affordable” housing. In April 2013, on behalf of PETA, Abraham wrote a letter to the Minister for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan, asking that she make all circuses in India animal-free.

Campaigning for clubfoot-free India

Recently, he has signed up as the Goodwill Ambassador for ‘Treat Clubfoot Today’, an initiative by Cure International India in partnership with Rotary International and NRHM, Government of India. In India, everyday over 150 children are born with clubfoot, a congenital deformity that affects one foot or both. John Abraham joins CURE International India Trust (CIIT) in enlightening the public that clubfoot can be treated and neglected clubfoot leads to lifetime disability. CURE India is also facilitating free non-surgical treatment across 90 designated Clubfoot Clinics in NCR of Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Speaking about his association with the ‘Treat Clubfoot Today’ campaign, the Bollywood actor stated, “Every child has the right to lead a normal life. That is why I decided to become the Brand Ambassador for Clubfoot. I am fortunate that I am in a position where I can lend face value and help propagate this campaign. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to champion this cause.”

Living up to his heritage

Abraham attributed his willingness and interest for social causes to his upbringing. He said that his parents have always been people who believed in giving back to the society and have inculcated the same attitude in him. “My mother takes care of children affected by cancer twice a week, feeds stray dogs twice a week and takes care of the aged twice a week. My father is an architect and builds homes for earthquake affected people,” he said.

He also informed that it was his mother who urged him to take the initiative to curb clubfoot in India. In a lighter vein he said, “I told Santhosh (Dr Santhosh George, Director, CURE International India) when he met me that I am a Mama’s boy and have been ordered by my mother to lend my support to the cause.” “I told him, please use me and actually abuse my image; just use it wherever you want to, because anything that needs the championing of cause requires for us to be present,” he added.

Abraham also said that he is proud to be associated with the venture and mentioned that he want to see India free of disability from clubfoot and he will support the campaign to get all children born with clubfoot reach the nearest free clubfoot clinics.

It is to be expected that his involvement in the fight against ignorance of clubfoot will benefit thousands of children to lead a productive normal life.