They are ageless in their enthusiasm

MUMBAI:There's a Mumbai doctor who has been administering free polio vaccines veryWednesday for the last 20 years. A gynaecologist nun has performed 70,000caesareans in Mau, Uttar Pradesh. A Gurgaon resident has given 8,000rickshaw-pullers an added source of income. Another Delhi-based man has madethousands aware of the need for water conservation. A woman from Vardha gave upher only child to care for over 1,000 orphans.Believe it or not, allthese people-and five others-are all officially senior citizens but seem agelessin their enthusiasm. This feisty group of ten will be honoured by the Harmonyfor Silvers Foundation on the occasion of World Elders Day on Thursday. Foundedby Tina Ambani, the Harmony for Silvers Foundation celebrates the spirit ofactive ageing. Winners will be awarded a citation and a cash prize of Rs 51,000each. At an interaction with the media on Wednesday, eight of theten winners (two were out of town) told their stories, explaining how it'sordinary people who can achieve extraordinary things. Dr Alan Davis Alappat, whohas made it to the Limca Book of Records for giving free polio vaccination everyWednesday for the last 20 years, said he could only make it to the functionbecause his son (also a doctor) was at the clinic filling in for him. Thediminutive Dr Sister Jude stood hidden behind the podium as she told theengrossed audience about her tall achievement of attending to 382 patients in asingle day.Mukesh Anand fit ice boxes on8,000 Gurgaon cycle rickshaws, enabling the rickshaw puller to sell cold waterand soft drinks. Physics teacher Pradeep Kshetrapal said his inability to teachdifferently abled children in Chattisgarh left him feeling disabled, so he setout to correct that. 80-year-old Asa Dutta has made it her mission to empowerwomen in the slums of Assam and refuses to rest till her task iscomplete.Talk to anyone from this silver-haired set and you realiseage is just a number. They have stars in their eyes, a spring in their step andnothing can stop them.