Sports enthusiasts and budding artists brought a rush of adrenaline and colors at Gandhi Darshan in Rajghat at the Capital on Sunday, 17th September. This annual event which featured diverse activities adrenaline runs, cycling courses, and bike rides, thematic activities and poster making competition witnessed a huge turnout of over a thousand participants.
This was a flagship annual event of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti and this year the 14th edition of Run ForSwasth Bharat was organised in collaboration with Health Fitness Trust (HFT). HFT was registered in 1994 by an eminent international athlete and marathoner Dr. Sunita Godara (1992 Asian Marathon Gold medalist). Health Fitness Trust is supported by Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd. (TFCI) as a part of its CSR initiative for athlete training programme for 5 national level athletes and Taekwondo Martial Art training programme for 75 athletes for financial year 2023-24.
The event witnessed the honorary presence of esteemed dignitaries, including former Union Minister and Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti,Shri Vijay Goel, Dr.Sunita Godara, Founder, HFT and Shri Anoop Bali, Whole-Time Director, TFCI. Prominent among the participants included the national level athletes, Ankur Kumar, Bhumi Negi, Abhishek Soni, Amit Choudhary and Pankaj Sharma who were part of TFCI’s CSR initiative for athlete training programme.
The event was flagged off by Shri Vijay Goel, Dr. Sunita Godara, and Shri Anoop Bali. Following this , they walked alongside the participants for a while. These participants held placards displaying messages such as commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Quit India Movement and expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the success of the G20, along with cut-outs of the Prime Minister to celebrate his birthday.
The 'Run for Swasth Bharat' offered runners to choose from three categories: 10 km, 5 km, and 1 km, ensuring that runners of all levels could participate. The Run for Swasth Bharat route took participants from Gandhi Darshan to Connaught Place, passing through significant landmarks such as Gandhi Vatika, ITO, Police Headquarters, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, and Minto Bridge, before returning to Gandhi Darshan.
Shri Vijay Goel, former union minister and Vice Chairman Gandhi Darshan while lauding the initiative said, “We have joined this noble cause because Gandhiji always championed the importance of physical and mental well-being, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to promote Gandhiji's ideals and teachings. This is also to create an awareness about non-violence, justice, yoga, Ayurveda, and Homeopathy – concepts that our Prime Minister has successfully propagated to over 160 countries. I believe there was no better way to celebrate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's birthday than with Run ForSwasth Bharat. The youth's enthusiasm for Prime Minister Modi's birthday is fueled by his dynamic leadership and the successful organization of the G20, which has left a significant impact on them.”
“As a former national player and former Sports Minister of India, my message to the youth is clear: Embrace both the race of life and the physical race to ensure a healthy and balanced life”, Shri Goel further added.
Shri Anoop Bali, Whole-Time Director, TFCI, said, “We are honoured to be a part of HFT's campaign to promote a healthy way of life. Events like 'Run for Swasth Bharat' are critical in maintaining entire fit and healthy body alongwith flexible mind. We have been assisting Health Fitness Trust over the last two years and our main goal is to empower women in all aspects, this year. In line with this, the event's emphasizes on empowering women through self-defense and yoga exhibited a dedication to overall health and well-being. We believe that cultivating a culture of physical health and mental power acts as a driving force to our country's growth.”
67-year-old Rajendra Kumar Yadav, one of the participants, while completing the 10 km race, said that he completed the 10 km race after one year of recovering from hamstring. He emphasized that youth can achieve the same by overcoming laziness, reducing mobile addiction, and committing to a proper routine and regular exercise.
Another participant, Kaushal Kishore who is also an AIIMS employee successfully completed the 5 km race, emphasized the critical role of health in our lives. In today's fast-paced world, with the increasing prevalence of various diseases, incorporating running into our daily routines becomes essential. Running not only motivates us but also aids in calorie burning, promoting overall well-being.
Among the highlights of the programme were a Zumba warm-up session at 6:30 am, followed by the event flag-off involving cyclists, skaters, and bikers. The thematic shows and felicitation ceremony featured short insights into sports training, self-defense Martial Art performances, and yoga performances aimed at promoting physical and mental health in women. The Taekwondo and Judo teams also showcased their skills during this event and they received numerous awards and gift hampers. In addition, the guest of honors presented mementos to event partners in recognition of the successful execution of the event.