This story is from April 22, 2016

Kohli backs surgeon’s old age home

Cricketer Virat Kolhi, Amit Bhosale and Aparna Deshmukh with a resident of Abhalmaya. Pune: It was quite an experience for Aparna Deshmukh to exchange her surgeon's gloves for those of with a batsman's gloves.
Kohli backs surgeon’s old age home
PUNE: It was quite an experience for Aparna Deshmukh to exchange her surgeon's gloves for those of with a batsman's gloves. It wasn't the bulk that troubled her much, but the fact that not since they were bulky, but since because they were a gift from India's young cricket batting star Virat Kohli.
For Kohli too, on the other hand, a visit to Deshmukh's Abhalmaya old age home on Thursday was a reality check of sorts.
The cricketer, who is known for his aggresion on the field, was moved by the sight of some of the inmates who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. SIt was sports journalist Sunandan Lele had spoken with who told Virat about Abhalmaya, which led to the visit on Thursday.
"Some of the patients could not recognise him, others treated him as if he was their relative and made him sit with them while those who fit ones knew who he is and were thrilled to see the great batsman amidst them," revealed Deshmukh while speaking with TOI. Deshmukh pointed out that Virat, who interacted with the residents of the old age home, seemed rather gentle as he posed She said that it was a soft hearted Virat she saw today, who had time for every inmate and posed for photographs with the patients.
"He is quite busy but it did not appear as though this never felt that his visit was just a formality. He went into every room and met every patient. He told me said that actually visiting an old age home was a vastly different experience than hearing about one", Deshmukh said.
Such a place should not exist, was what Virat told Deshmukh after his visit. "But I told him that an old age home is not always bad. Sometimes it becomes impossible to tend to the old people at home," she said.
Virat, who was accompanied by Amit Bhosle of ABIL Foundation, offered a helping hand to Deshmukh. "Virat Kohli Foundation and ABIL Foundation have now come together joined hands to extend help to Aabhalmaya. Together, they will extend immediate financial help to Abhalmaya to end its financial crunch," said a statement mentionedissued later.

Speaking on the occasion, Virat said, "People, such as Dr Aparna, are doing remarkable work by running such a facility for all those elderly who have been left behind by their dear ones. This is absolutely wrong and it is our duty to take care of elderly members of our family."
Currently, Aabhaylaya is home to taking care of about 57 senior citizens. Started in 2010, Deshmukh has been running the this old age home without any private or administrative financial support from any governmental organization, donations and funding from other non governmental organisations. She has been utilized all her own earnings to for the sake of running the old age home, which also offers medical assistance to its elderly residents.
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