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Doctors hit the road to raise money for center
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT SPRING HILL -- Fundraising efforts for the Nimmagadda Cultural Center have been a lot like a marathon: long, sometimes exhausting, but with the promise of victory at the end.
For about two years, Drs. Robert Ebert and Ramki Kanuri have run together, occasionally entering races such as the Chinsegut Run and the Red Mule Invitational. In February, the pair ran the 15K Gasparilla Distance Classic in Tampa. "We had done a few races to get our confidence up, and this time we decided to just go for it," said Ebert, a 45-year-old internist. For about nine months, they have trained for the Hops Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, sometimes running up to 20 miles at a time. On Wednesday, the men ran a 3-mile stretch of the bike trail adjacent to the Suncoast Parkway in Hernando County as part of their final week of preparation. "I thought it made sense to use this opportunity for a good cause," said Kanuri, 43, a Spring Hill gastroenterologist. Most of their nearly $50,000 in pledges has come from friends, family and business associates, Kanuri said. "It has taken a lot of persistent phone calls," he said. "But it is worth the effort." The Hernando County Fine Arts Council hopes to break ground on the center this summer, said project consultant Vince Vanni. Including pledges of money, land and matching funds from the state, the council has raised about $400,000, he said. Those who make pledges during the marathon fundraiser will be eligible for sponsorship inscriptions when the building is complete, Vanni said. Inscriptions on seats in the concert hall orchestra section are $500. Seats in the balcony are $300, and brick inscriptions are $50.All contributions are tax deductible and eligible for 50 percent matching funds from the state. "We hope to bring about an awareness," said Kanuri. "Raising money is not a personal crusade of mine. We each must do what we can do because the center is for everyone." "Dr. (Sriramamurthy) Nimmagadda was a special physician," said Ebert, who came to Spring Hill 15 years ago. "He gave so much to the community and to the people around him."
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