* An initiative by the United Sisters Foundation and promoted by Maximus Events & Media Solutions, India’s biggest women’s run to be held in the city on Sunday, June 5th, 2016 at Island Ground
* Chennai Pinkathon will have around 8,000 plus women participating.
April 22 2016, 17.07 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Chennai, April 21, 2016: Pinkathon – Empowering Indian Women, Powered by Bajaj Electricals India’s biggest women’s run is coming to Chennai for the third edition on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at Island Ground, Chennai. Online registrations are open at www.pinkathon.in for the V Wash plus3km, Tanishq 5km & 10km multi-category run, for United Nation’s He for She 21km drop a mail on info@pinkathon.in.
United Sisters Foundation & Maximus Events along with super model, actor, fitness enthusiast, avid barefoot runner and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman formally announced the launch of the third edition run in Chennai at a press conference at Savera Hotel. Present at the conference were eminent dignitaries like Tanvi Shah, Grammy Award winner singer; Anita Ratnam, Indian classical dancerwho expressed their wholehearted support for the noble cause.
Expressing delight on the launch of the third edition of Pinkathon Powered by Bajaj Electricalsin Chennai, founder Milind Soman said, “We are very excited to bring Pinkathon to Chennai once again. We are confident the city and its people will support us and help make this run a 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. The 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 organize Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 10,000 women run at each of these events over the Vwash plus 3km, Mia By Tanishq 5km, 10km and United Nations He for She 21km distances. They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable.”
Reema Sanghavi, Managing Director, Maximus Events further added “Besides Chennai, Pinkathon has already been held in various cities like Hyderabad, Delhi,Bangalore, Guwahati, Pune, Ahmedabad& Mumbai in the year 2015. The multi-city national event has received an overwhelming expression of support with over 50,000 women of all ages, across different walks of life from 6 cities in 2014. This number crossed 75,000 in 2015 with 8 cities. The campaign will be supported with an integrated communication plan which includes several pre- event activities like training runs for baby wearing mothers, first time women runners and cancer survivors. There will also be an extensive online campaign to reach out to the masses and help the movement grow.”
As a precursor to the main day, the team is organising unique events such as the Cancer Shero Trek. A Shero is a cancer survivor & 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.
Tanvi Shah, Grammy Award Winner said, “It’s a pleasure to be associated with Pinkathon. I feel that Pinkathon is an important platform that encourages women to come out of their shell and talk about their fight with cancer. It gives them a chance to show the world how tough they are to stand against all odds and truly be winners. I wish Milind all the success in this noble endeavour and urge the women of Chennai to participate in huge numbers."
Beena Koshy, Vice President and Head - Advertising & Brand Development, Bajaj Electricals said, “We, at Bajaj Electricals, are proud to partner with Pinkathon in this great initiative specifically for women. The year 2016 is being celebrated at Bajaj as the year of the Girl Child. And therefore our association with Pinkathon and its cause to spread awareness of breast cancer will be seen as a step towards this initiative. In fact we are encouraging our male employees to get their spouses, mothers, sisters or any female relative to participate in this run and support the cause whole heartedly. We would also be rewarding special categories of runners like the senior citizens, the visually challenged or even the new moms who were running with babies. So we hope to see you there!”
In Pinkathon 50 visually impaired girls would be participating in the different category run. To prepare them for the main day, unique training sessions are designed with the help & coordination of sighted runners. Pinkathon powered by Bajaj Electricals is organising special training runs in various parts of Chennai for the registered participants who have requested training for the main day. Muthu Selvi Secretary, All India Confederation of the Blind, was announced as the mascot for the visually impaired squad who will be the running the V wash plus 3km.50 hearing impaired girls would be also participating in the V wash plus 3km category.Neerja Malik, cancer survivor, was announced as the mascots for the Mia by Tanishq 5 km and category run and RJ Navalakshmi from FM Suryan was announced mascot for 10 km. Both of them were presented with the first bib.
With the Pinkathon's one of a kind initiative, every single participant of Pinkathon Chennai 2016 powered by Bajaj can choose to avail of a free medical check-up from our medical partner Apollo hospitals or a free Mammogram if the participant is above 45yrs of age.Milind Soman also highlighted the concept of Pinkathon Ambassadors in every city who are passionate, extraordinary, committed men & 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 that together, we will 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 & fitness at every age.
Pinkathon in Chennai has received huge response from corporate sponsors like, Bajaj Electricals, VWash plus, Mia By Tanishq, Oyo Rooms, Reebok, U.S.POLO, Enthusionz, Flashbulbz, IPRS PPL, Timing Technology and Thailand Tourism. Also, Bajaj Electricals will be planting 1000 trees to commemorate the Pinkathon going green in Chennai.
The focus of the India’s biggest women’s only running event, is to encourage an active lifestyle and overall fitness amongst women, while creating a much needed awareness about breast cancer and bone health and encourage thousands of new or first-timer women to take up running.
All proceeds raised from the event will be used for the expenses incurred in organizing and marketing the event, and by the Women's Cancer Initiative in its fight against breast cancer. The official website for Pinkathon is www.pinkathon.in through which participants can register online. Twitter Handle: @pinkathon10k