New Delhi: India Cares Foundation, the Philanthropy Partner associated for the second year with the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) 2015, has already witnessed extraordinary growth in the capital’s most awaited annual sporting event, with still one week to go before race day. ADHM 2015 will see 34,000 runners from across India and different corners of the world come together at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, run to fulfil their dream and help raise funds to support various social and charitable causes dear to them.
In their aim to promote the sport of running as a platform for health and fitness, Procam International, promoters of the event, continue to support the importance of charity, a fundamental area of focus at each edition. India Cares Foundation got associated with Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in 2014 and collected INR 3.67 crores as charity in their maiden year of partnership. For ADHM 2015, India Cares Foundation has already raised INR 4.50 crore, the highest fund raised in all 8 years of the event so far, with 6 days still to go for the race day.
This year 104 NGOs along with 43 Care Champions (Care Champions Diamond 11, Care Champions Gold 11 and Care Champions Silver 21) will be participating at the 8th edition of ADHM 2015. Care Champions raise an average of Rs 2 lakhs each. The encouraging trend across the country has seen many children and youth taking lead in bringing about a change for the betterment of society. In total, there are over 20 teenagers raising over Rs 6 lakhs as of now!
Representing India Inc., in the ‘Corporates Cares’ category, 71 companies (111 teams and 3281 participants) have confirmed their participation. Many of India’s blue chip companies such as Met Life, Kotak, Accenture, Apollo Tyres, Bank of America, Bird Group, Kargil, Hero Moto Corp, KPMG among others more will take to the streets on 29th November supporting 28 NGOs. In addition, there are 5 ‘Youth Cares’ teams that will also participate on Sunday.
“Though running is a single person sport, when a cause is attached to this sport, it becomes a people’s sport, a city, a nation’s sport. This being our second year as the Philanthropy Partner to the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, we have been encouraged by the wonderful response from the city of Delhi and NCR region, who have shown their whole-hearted support in the spirit of giving and running for a cause,” said Murray Culshaw, Chairperson, India Cares Foundation.
Murray believes that running events provide a wonderful opportunity for NGOs to raise funds and support social causes. Quoting Marc Pitman, “Fundraising is an extreme sport,” he believes that each year many runners train very hard for this event. During the course of their run, if they feel like they can’t run anymore, the thought that they are running for those who can’t, for those whose lives they will change, for the society that contributes to their run, provides the fuel that keeps them going.
The philanthropy Partners role with the event over the years has developed a system that records the transparency of funds raised and credibility of NGOs. Thus every edition of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon witnesses more NGOs, more runners, more corporate teams and more funds raised to support the less fortunate.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Vivek Singh - Joint MD, Procam International said, "Keeping up the tradition of setting new benchmarks every year, ADHM 2015 supported by its philanthropic partners has already raised INR 4.5 cr with 6 days remaining to the race day. Everyone from teenage kids to the big corporations have helped raise this amount collectively displaying their support towards the social causes. We would like to salute the spirit or Delhi for coming together and taking this event to newer heights year after year."
Atish Kumar Sahu, a 13 year old student of the 'Lotus Petal Charitable Foundation’ is the youngest of the Individual Runner who has dedicated time and effort into raising impressive sums. The organization is supporting him in completing his education.
Kiran Modi, Honorary Managing Trustee of 'Udayan Care' is the Oldest Fundraiser amongst all. And Dwaraka Pandurangi is the Highest Fundraiser in this edition of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Their commitment, passion and enthusiasm for the cause each of them support is the inspiration for many.
India Cares believes that Airtel Delhi Half Marathon provides the platform that NGOs need to let the society know on the wonderful work being done by them, across various causes and build the credibility of their work and the impact they have on the betterment of society.
