Mangaluru : Taking on a running challenge is a fantastic way not only to fund raise but you’ll also be promoting better health. After all, exercise and keeping healthy are two of the best things you can do to keep your ticker ticking on! Whether you’re planning on holding your own event, doing a 5 km challenge, building your way up to doing a 10 km race or really testing yourself in a marathon, you can make fundraising easy by doing it for better health, and also bringing awareness among the public about various diseases like Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Attacks, and other illness.
“Run for Health” -a nearly 5 km run was organized with a aim to create an urban rural health movement that is friendly, fresh and energetic, and Mangaluru was selected as the first fund raiser event destination. The Early Detection for a Better Future (EDBF) – a NGO founded the Aafreen Vaz-the second runners-up in the Femina Miss India 2015 pageant kicked off at 9am from City Centre Mall today, 2 October. The formal function was inaugurated by Aafreen Vaz, Goel-Proprietor of Pandit Resort-Moodbidiri, Charan Suvarna-Owner of Fashion abcd and other VIPs on the dais. The Run was organised in association with AJ Shetty Hospital and Research Centre.
After the formal inauguration, the Run was flagged off by Aafreen Vaz where hundreds of men and women joined in the “Run” which started from City Centre Mall, and winding through Hampankatta, Lighthouse Hill Rd, Bunts Hostel Rd, Kodialbail Rd and culminating at City Centre Mall. It was indeed a Run for a Good Cause- and every drop of sweat from the participants counted. Completing a marathon or short-distance Run is a great achievement for anybody. However, the possibility of changing somebody’s life being added to every step in your run can give you a sense of pride like no other.
These hundreds of young men and women who took part in the “Run for Health” did make a difference. They believed and became the change that they wanted to see. They all choose to run with a purpose. They inspired their friends, family and others like themselves to join in the Run, and help raise funds and reach their target. For some runners it was quite hectic and tiresome to cover the entire distance by running-so many chose their gears from -Running to Jogging-to Walking, but they all made it to the end point, bubbling with enthusiasm, and pride-that they ran for a good cause.
Dr HR Rajeshwari Devi, Superintendent at Government Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru who made a guest appearance at the event, and speaking to the large crowd gathered at the Mall said, ” I compliment the organizers for a initiative idea in organizing ‘Run for Health’ thereby bringing out awareness in creating urban rural health movement that is friendly, fresh and energetic. Since October is considered as a ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ I kindly request the organizers of this event to organize “Pinkathon” to raise awareness among breast cancer women”.
She further said, “October marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness month, an annual campaign that aims to increase knowledge and awareness of the disease. A closer look at the staggering stats about breast cancer reveal why this is an important cause to so many people. According to the American Cancer Society, every 2 minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer — and many all over the world-that’s everything from “stage zero” cancer (which some doctors believe shouldn’t even be called cancer) to the deadliest form: invasive breast cancer. The World Cancer Research Fund International reports that there are more than 6 million breast cancer survivors worldwide, giving many survivors a reason to celebrate this month. By organizing Runs, marathons and other projects we can bring awareness about Cancer and also serious diseases, and make a difference”
Addressing the crowd Aafreen Vaz said, ” Early Detection for a Better Future (EDBF) a NGO launched by me aims to build a strong family of volunteers that will undergo training on the importance of early detection of common diseases specific to the rural region of interest and then to go on to educate the respective rural community through creative health education camps. Access to health care and awareness of early detection and prevention of diseases that one is at risk of is not a choice but a right. If us urban Indians are able to exercise this right daily and liberally lets do out bit so that this sense of assurance reaches our rural Indians too. This is what we at EDBF (Early detection for a better future) dedicate our work towards.”
She further said,” EDBF aims to build a strong family of volunteers that will undergo training on the importance of early detection of common diseases specific to the rural region of interest and then to go on to educate the respective rural community through creative health education camps. We aim to create an urban for rural health movement that is friendly fresh and energetic and I am so overwhelmed that Mangaluru is our first ever fundraiser event-The EDBF Health Run. I am happy to see so many participants here today, and thank you for your support for a good cause. Let us join to make a difference in peoples lives in the rural areas, who are desperately needing training and information in handling various diseases”
Aafreen Vaz and other dignitaries on the dais presented prizes to the winners who completed the Run in record time- the winners in women category were Dr Anupama-Yenepoya Medical College, Deralakatte, Meenu Augustine-LMCN and Shijina Thyvalappil- LMCN. In the Men’s category the winners were-Kieth and Nikhil Kumar-St Joseph’s Engineering College, Dr Ullas Shetty- AJ Institute of Mngt, and Manoj Poudel-LMCP. The event was professionally compered by Mohammed Aashiq. AJ Shetty Hospital and Research Centre, Fashion abcd and Change360° Fashion store were part of the event sponsors.
