Noida half-marathon: Over 500 run to promote ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’

Over 500 people participated in a half-marathon, along the service lanes of Noida-Greater Noida Expressway to promote the message of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’.

Over 500 people participated in a half-marathon, along the service lanes of Noida-Greater Noida Expressway to promote the message of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’.

Kargil war veteran and quadruple Limca record holder Major (retd) DP Singh was the chief guest.

The event was organised by Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES) in association with Run With Me foundation on Sunday. A large crowd of students from nearby schools, friends and supporters of PPES, representatives of corporate sponsors and local enthusiasts participated in the first edition of the Noida half-marathon.

The marathon culminated at Mahamaya Balika Inter College in Noida’s Sector 44.

“About three years ago, in addition to its regular educational and vocational training programmes, our society started an initiative in the form of a rural half-marathon to spread awareness about equal opportunities for the girl child in and around the villages of Anupshahr. A charity run with 1,000 runners was organised in neighbouring Bulandshahr in July 2016 to further spread the message about educating girls and their right to participate in sports,” Renuka, CEO of PPES, said.

She said that it is very inspiring to see that the girl child has a chance to run towards her goal and make her mark and identity.

This initiative has now been brought to the urban NCR crowd to promote the message of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ under the banner of Pardada Pardadi Noida half-marathon.

Lokender Singh, a board member of PPES, emphasised on the importance of enjoying the run and feeling the satisfaction of spreading a positive message, rather than just winning.

Ravinder Singh of Run With Me, an association of runners, said that participating in such runs requires conviction and shapes the important aspects of a person’s identity. “Acquire your unique identity, be a runner — run a half-marathon to become one in a million.”