High-altitude training camp, Paudi Gadwal, Uttarakhand. December 2025.
Our Origin
It started with a single care package
In July 2024, our Chief Mentor Khem Rautela came across Sonam’s story online through a news report. Sonam, a young Indian steeplechaser with great potential but limited resources, had just broken the under-21 national record. Khem wanted to help but didn't know how. He just knew he had to act.
After digging online, Khem found out about Sonam's coach, Sanjeev Kumar, and reached out to him. Through Sanjeev, Khem learned what Sonam and other athletes in Sanjeev’s group needed the most. What he discovered was both eye-opening and motivating: talented athletes striving to excel without access to even the most basic resources.
Khem didn't have all the resources, so he turned to close friends and asked for their help. Together, they pooled US$1,500 and shipped two care packages filled with shoes, running gear, and essential nutrition for a group of five young women athletes. That was just the beginning, and since then more care packages of shoes, nutrition and running gear have been delivered.
Then came 2025! Khem arranged for athletes to train at high altitude in the hills of Paudi Gadwal and launched a GoFundMe to help with funding needs. That's when something wonderful happened. Jay Stephenson, a longtime track and field coach (Khem's coach and co-founder of Runfree Training), offered to go to India at his own expense and provide his services for free. Together with Jay, Khem was able to conduct a week-long camp with different coaches and athletes. The trip made Khem even more convinced he needed to do more.
"Out of this wild journey, the idea of Poshak was born."
Poshak aims to equip athletes of all abilities with training, nutrition and education to be the best versions of themselves. We're also committed to helping and supporting Indian women athletes like Sonam, as we believe there are many Sonams who need help.
