3000 Runners to Participate in a Fund-Raising Marathon ‘Green Kanha Run’
Green Kanha Run: Heartfulness in association with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Govt. of India) and Fit India is organizing ‘Green Kanha Run’ featuring 2K Family Run, 5k, 10k timed run and 21k timed run beginning at Kanha Shanti Vanam – Heartfulness International Headquarters in the outskirts of Hyderabad that houses the world’s largest meditation centre in the world. Shri Anurag Thakur – Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India will be the Chief Guest and will also give away the prizes. Shri Srinivas Gaud, Telangana State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports would flag off all the runs and will give away the prizes and Shri Ronald Rose – Secretary of Finance at Government of Telangana and Shri Arun Parameshwaran from the PayPal leadership will flag off the 21K run while Ace Indian Badminton Coach will flag off the 5k run. Smt Uma Chigurupati – Co-founder, Granules India Ltd will also be present to flag off 10k run.
The run that is being held on 26th February 2023, Sunday, is a fund-raiser for Forest by Heartfulness – a green initiative by Heartfulness that is aiming at planting 30 million tress across India over the next 5 years, ensuring 80 native, endemic and endangered species planted across the chosen locations, and ensuring livelihood support for 1lac farmers, indigenous communities, and micro-entrepreneurs. Start and finish of all run categories are at Kanha- near Pearl Ground. Only the 21km goes outside Kanha around Saireddyguda lake, trailing a muddy run back onto Maddur road, and then into Kanha.
This is the first time Heartfulness is organizing this run for nature and run in nature. The event is also being co-organised by Utsara Sports Private Limited. Participants will have the opportunity to be close to nature in the lush greens of Kanha and be routed along the beautiful lake there. The marathon is also symbolic of showing deep respect for Mother Nature and nurture oneness with self.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kamlesh Patel ‘Daaji’ – Guide of Heartfulness Meditation Worldwide and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission said, “Forests are an integral part of our ecosystem. All the climatic changes around the world that we are seeing today is due to deforestation and carbon footprints. Trees are sentient beings, and we must respect that. This run is a reminder that we must conserve nature.”
Union Minister Mr. Anurag Thakur said, “This marathon has a purpose. Plants are the backbone of our existence. We need to send the message out to people there that each of us needs to take up the responsibility towards green cover. While sports is good for health, a green terrain like Kanha Shanti Vanam adds value to inner wellbeing. Forests by Heartfulness is on the way to accomplish it target of saving 30 million trees in the next five years – which makes a marathon in the true sense.”
Ms. Uma Chigurupati – Co-founder of Granules India Ltd. said, “It is an opportune time for everybody to participate in this run especially for the beautiful cause and also because one can enjoy the magic of nature surrounded by the greens of Kanha Shanti Vanam. It is also a very peaceful place and helps one to connect with oneself very well. We are very happy and proud to be associated with Heartfulness as their Title Sponsor for the event.”
Granules India Ltd. is the Title Sponsor of the event, while Hyderabad Runners is the Community Partner. The event is sponsored and supported by Radio-city ( Radio partner), Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd ( Beverage partner), Hira Pipes (Supporting Partner), Rain-O-Shine (Medal Sponsor), Fast&Up ( Energy Drink Partner), Medicover Hospitals (Medical and Recovery Partner), 365Veda (Wellness Partner), Decathlon (Gifting Partner), Snapwelt (Photography Partner), T-Hub (Innovation Partner), YI Climate Change (Environment Partner), Clove Dental and Love My Smile (Food Sponsor), Nile Mile (Marathon Partner), and iQ30 (Timing Partner).
In an age where we are talking about climate change and carbon footprints, Green Kanha Run would be the most thoughtful climate conscious run possible and all its proceeds will go to Forests by Heartfulness, an initiative of Heartfulness institution, to nurture, protect and conserve nature, endemic and endangered trees species of India.
