Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday led an anti-drug marathon titled “Start Run, Stop Drugs” along the scenic Kamarajar Salai near Marina Beach, with thousands of participants taking part in the event.
Vijay, who recently turned 52, was dressed in a black jogging T-shirt and track pants. Accompanied by cabinet ministers Aadhav Arjuna and P Venkataramanan, and chief secretary M Sai Kumar, he ran the entire 3-km stretch, breaking with the convention of chief ministers merely flagging off such events instead of participating in them.
Ahead of the marathon, Vijay administered a pledge in which participants took an oath against drugs and pledged to educate their families and friends about their ill effects.
Vijay also signed a large banner carrying the Tamil message: “Sports Edu, Drugs Vidu (Take up sports, give up drugs).”
The event was organised by the state government-backed Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).