Hundreds run in Bangalore to aid Uttarakhand victims

Hundreds of people from all walks of life, including expats living in the city, Sunday participated in 5-10km marathon here to raise funds and collect household goods for victims of the disaster-hit Uttarakhand.

"We are touched by the overwhelming response of Bangaloreans to the 'Snapthon' run for the rehab of thousands of Uttarakhand victims and families who suffered a trail of death and destruction in mid-June," organiser and Snap Fitness founder B.M. Vikram told IANS later.

About 2,000 people, including boys and girls flocked to the Freedom Park in the city centre for the run on a cloudy and breezy day. While the young men and women, including techies and volunteers opted for the 10km marathon, the elderly folks opted for the 5km-run.

"We raised about Rs.75,000 in cash during the four-hour event from the public by way of contributions en-route and collected foodgrains, groceries, utensils, clothes, mattresses and quilts in about 30 carton boxes kept at our fitness centres across the city," said an elated Vikram.

The fund and rehab materials will be sent at the earliest to the Uttarakhand government for distribution through Goonj, a non-government organisation, whose volunteers coordinated the event.

"Though we have been conducting marathons in the city over the last three years for wellness or fitness and other social issues, this was the first time a long run on a voluntary basis was held for a humanitarian cause of rebuilding the lives of the affected families," Snap co-founder Srileka Reddy said on the occasion.

Among the noted persons who led the marathon were Arjuna award winner Reeth Abraham and former Indian women cricket captain Pramila Bhat, a few celebrities from the tinsel world and scores of techies from Indian IT firms and multinationals.

Winners of the marathon were awarded Rs.10,000 and Rs.5,000 in both categories.