Run to send girl to class – Half Marathon from Red Road on Sunday

Aavirash Mitra, a Class XI student of La Martiniere for Boys, will put on his running shoes this Sunday so that some less fortunate youngster can go to school.

Thousands of Calcuttans are gearing up to forsake their Sunday nap to join the Amity Calcutta Half Marathon 2012, The Royal Bengal Run, in association with The Telegraph, on February 5.

The 14km run (see map above) will start from Red Road at 7am and participants will return to the same spot at the end.

With over 7,500 registrations already received and more pouring in from companies, NGOs, schools and colleges, the event is tipped to beat last year’s success run. “Last year, we had over 8,000 participants and this year we are expecting a footfall of over 15,000 with people registering online as well as through campaigns in malls and forms available at NIIT and Amity,” says Ankita Chakravarty Bhattacharya, the associate dean, Amity, Calcutta.

“The likes of Tata Interactive Services and BPCL and over 20 NGOs like Hope Foundation and Smile Foundation have made bulk bookings. More are looking to join hands with us. Colleges like Scottish Church, St. Xavier’s and Loreto are also taking part,” the Amity dean said.

With the registration fee only Rs 100 and no age limit for participants, the aim, feels Ankita, is to “reunite Calcuttans from all walks, across all ages to spread awareness for an important cause”.

It is for this cause — highlighting the importance of empowering and educating needy girl children through Amitasha, a chain of schools for the underprivileged — that Aavirash and his friend Darpan will join the run. “We were told about the Half Marathon by our principal. It is not an easy distance, but the fact that every Rs 100 will make a difference to a needy person’s life will make it easier. I know a lot of students from my school are also gearing up,” Aavirash said.

Non-athletes and non-participants can take part in the Dream Run — a 4km stretch that will ensure easy participation for even the most unfit enthusiast!

Veteran footballer Prasun Banerjee, who will be running alongside Maidan mates past (Manas Bhattacharya) and present (Mehtab Hossain), said: “Calcutta supports cricket, football, hockey and every other sport. We should support the marathon with equal enthusiasm. The cause is excellent and I feel every Calcuttan should take part. I am proud to be a part of it.”

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