Mind over matter for Navi Mumbai woman as she completes walkathon

NAVI MUMBAI: At the annual Walkathon held in Vashi on Saturday, hundreds of residents from Navi Mumbai walked with the aim to make the city friendly for walkers.
At the end of the hour-long walk, initiated by Rotary International and the traffic control branch of Navi Mumbai, 29- year-old Mohini Sharma, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II since birth was felicitated for her achievements and her determination to be who she is today, despite the odds.
Kamothe-based Mohini was diagnosed with the condition when she was six months old. It was a struggle for her and her family to accept this, even more so, since her younger brother, Gaurav, too, suffers from the same affliction and is almost always bedridden. "At first, it was very hard for me, especially since I was unable to walk. Eventually, I learnt to cope with my disability," she said.
She initially attended the Society for the Education of the Crippled, then finished schooling from the Delhi Open School and finally enrolled for a correspondence graduate course with Mumbai University and is now a successful B Com graduate. Although wheelchair-bound, it doesn't stop her from pursuing her passions.
"I currently work for an internet-based marketing firm. I also do a bit of freelance writing and dabble in tarot card readings," she said.
With a married elder sister, both Mohini and her brother Gaurav, need special care. "My brother is almost bed ridden. Although he is a graphic artist, he is unable to sit up for long. Both of us rely on our parents," she said. The award given to her was from the Kanchan Foundation where she volunteers. She hopes that in her own way she has inspired people to change their perception towards the physically challenged.