by Suman Gupta
Mumbai, 16 October 2026: Rotarian Lal Goel, Founder and Charter President of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International (RCODI) and Chairman of Organ Donation India Foundation and GYAN, has proposed an innovative approach to car rallies to maximise public awareness about organ donation.
During a brainstorming session at JW Marriott, Juhu, Mumbai, Rtn Lal Goel shared his suggestions with Regal Assistant Governor Rtn T. S. Viswanathan, Regal President Rtn Jyoti Dongre of the Rotary Club of Ghatkopar West, and Regal Secretary and President-Elect Rtn Ruby Agarwal of RCODI. The discussion focused on making organ donation awareness car rallies more impactful by combining them with educational programmes at key locations along the route and actively involving local Rotary Clubs.
Three Cities, One Rally, A Greater Impact
Rtn Lal Goel proposed that every organ donation awareness car rally should incorporate dedicated awareness programmes at major stops along its route, transforming the rally from a symbolic drive into a meaningful public outreach initiative.
He suggested a three-stage programme:
First Stop – Flag-off Ceremony: Begin the rally with an organ donation awareness programme, preferably at an educational institution. The rally should be flagged off no earlier than 11:00 AM, allowing adequate time for participants to assemble and attend the programme.
Second Stop – En Route: Organise another awareness programme at an educational institution or other suitable venue in a major city along the route.
Final Stop – Destination City*: Conduct a third awareness programme at the destination from where the rally will begin its return journey to the starting point.
Involving Local Rotary Clubs: Rtn Lal Goel further emphasised that Rotary Clubs located in the cities and towns along the rally route should be actively involved in organising these local awareness programmes. The participating rally clubs should coordinate with local Rotary Clubs to mobilise students, community members and other stakeholders, arrange suitable venues, and ensure effective public participation. This collaborative approach would strengthen Rotary fellowship, encourage inter-club cooperation and create a wider, sustainable network for organ donation awareness.
This approach, he explained, would enable a single car rally to cover at least three cities, engage diverse communities, and significantly expand the reach of the organ donation awareness campaign, with local Rotary Clubs playing a vital role at every stage.
Learning from Successful Initiatives
Rtn Jyoti Dongre and other participants sought Rtn Lal Goel’s guidance to understand the planning, coordination and operational aspects of an organ donation awareness car rally that the Rotary Club of Ghatkopar West is considering organising in the near future.
To illustrate the potential of this approach, Rtn Lal Goel cited the successful organ donation awareness car rally recently organised jointly by the Rotary Club of Bombay Powai (Rotary International District 3141) and the Rotary Club of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar East (Rotary International District 3132).
He emphasised that such initiatives should go beyond fellowship among Rotary members and become sustained public awareness campaigns capable of educating people across multiple cities through the collective efforts of participating and local Rotary Clubs.
A Call to Rotary Clubs to Champion Organ Donation
“The majority of people have not even heard about organ donation. Organ donation awareness car rallies are a welcome initiative, but we must make them more meaningful by conducting awareness programmes at important stops along the route. Local Rotary Clubs should be involved in organising these programmes so that the campaign reaches more people and creates a lasting impact. Rotary Clubs and other organisations should come forward and take up this project regularly, combining fellowship with a noble cause. Every rally should leave behind greater awareness and inspire more people to consider organ donation,” said Rtn Lal Goel.
Applauding Rtn Lal Goel’s dedication and commitment to the cause of organ donation, Rtn Jyoti Dongre assured him that his suggestions would be presented to her club members for consideration.
Rtn Lal Goel expressed his gratitude to Rtn T. S. Viswanathan, Rtn Jyoti Dongre and Rtn Ruby Agarwal for their participation and valuable contributions to the brainstorming session.
The central message of the initiative is simple: an organ donation awareness car rally should not merely travel through cities; it should educate people, inspire conversations and build a stronger culture of organ donation through the collective efforts of Rotary Clubs and local communities.
