The multi-city national event has received an overwhelming expression of support with over 1,00,000 women of all ages, across different walks of life.
As a precursor to the main day, the team is organising unique events such as the Cancer Shero Trek for the cancer survivors.
They will be running for a cause again. The fifth edition of COLORS Pinkathon Chennai 2018 will be the biggest women’s run to encourage and promote fitness and health among women and create awareness for breast cancer and other issues relating to women’s health.
To introduce the run, eminent dignitaries were present like the 102-year-old Mann Kaur, an Indian track and field athlete who holds the world record in the over-100 years old segment, Dr. A.P. Subash Kumar, surgical oncologist and Dr. Ramanan, medical oncologist from Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, along with Super model, actor, Ultraman and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman.
Expressing delight at the launch of the fifth edition, Milind Soman said, “We are very excited to bring Pinkathon to Chennai for the fifth time. We are confident that the city and its people will support us and help make this run a humungous success. Pinkathon is more than a Marathon. It is the seed of change and the beginning of a movement that is carried forward by a growing community of empowered women across India, who share a belief that a healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world begins with empowered women, first step in empowerment is taking control of your own health, respecting yourself and understanding and celebrating the value you bring to your family and society. Empowerment is not a gift of society; it is a gift you give yourself.”
The fitness icon further added, “Fitness is liberating. If a culture of regular exercise and fitness must take root in India, our women need to become aware about the benefits of fitness. They need to be able to get out and run, which doesn’t happen enough due to various cultural reasons. We now organise Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 10,000 women run at each of these events at 3km, 5km, 10km and 21km distances. They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable.”
The multi-city national event has received an overwhelming expression of support with over 1,00,000 women of all ages, across different walks of life. This number is expected to grow in leaps and bounds in 2018. The campaign will be supported by an integrated communication plan which includes several pre-event activities like training runs for baby wearing mothers, first time women runners, cancer survivors and visually impaired girls. There are several new events to encourage running across the strata of society and age groups as well as differently-abled. There will also be an extensive online campaign to reach out to the masses and help the movement grow. The Fearless Midnight Run has been started to encourage more women to step out of their homes and take up their health seriously.
As a precursor to the main day, the team is organising unique events such as the Cancer Shero Trek for the cancer survivors. This event is dedicated towards felicitating these inspiring people. Starting with a trek, this event felicitates the inspiring Cancer Survivors honouring them with an “I Inspire” medal.
In Pinkathon Chennai, more than 40 visually impaired girls would be participating in the different run categories. To prepare them for the main day, unique training sessions are designed with the help and coordination of sighted runners.
They are also organising special training runs in various parts of Chennai for the registered participants who have requested training for the main day. P. Aruna Devi was announced as the mascot for the visually impaired squad who will be the running the VWash Plus 3km. 30 hearing impaired girls would be also participating in the 3 km category. MS. Sulakshana Badani, a cancer conqueror was announced as the mascot for the 5-km category run and RJ Abinaya was announced as the mascot for 10 km.
Milind Soman also highlighted the concept of Pinkathon Ambassadors in every city who are passionate, extraordinary, committed men and women connecting for one cause – ‘health for every woman’. Each Pinkathon Ambassador is a part of the Pinkathon core team and registers all the women in their circle of influence. Pinkathon inspires everyone who believes that together, we can do more. Various initiatives are undertaken by the Pinkathon Ambassadors to connect with women across various strata of the society.
‘Pinkathon goes to School’ is another interesting concept to encourage mother-daughter teams to run together. The idea is to encourage health and fitness at every age. There are over 300 Pinkathon ambassadors across cities working selflessly towards promotion the cause.
Article Source: Deccan Chronicle