Marathon for Uttarakhand victims in Bangalore Sunday

Hundreds of people, including expats and techies will run a 10 km marathon here Sunday to raise funds for the victims of disaster-hit Uttarakhand.

"In addition to our 1,000 members, about 1,000 people have registered so far for the 10km run being held to raise funds and collect household materials for families of the flood-hit Uttarakhand state," organiser and Snap Fitness India founder B.M. Vikram told IANS Saturday.

The marathon under the banner 'Snap Uttarakhand Benefit Run' will take off early Sunday from Freedom Park in the city centre and pass through the main streets of the city with hundreds of volunteers coordinating the event.

The goal of the marathon is to help the people struck by the natural disaster in mid-June and assist them in rebuilding.

"We have tied up with Joogu, a non-government organisation (NGO) to send the funds and materials to the Uttarakhand government for the rehab of the affected families," Vikram said.

With the motto of 'every rupee makes a difference to lives of the affected families', Snap Fitness has appealed to the public to run for a humanitarian cause and raise awareness on the need to provide succour to victims of the natural disaster.

"We are asking citizens to make their walking and running meaningful by raising awareness for a noble cause. Our mission is to help the authorities in rehabilitating the victims of landslides and flash floods in the northern state," said Vikram.

Snap members and those registered for the marathon contributed Rs.300 each towards the relief fund.

"We are hoping for a huge response from citizens of Bangalore as they have been always generous for such genuine causes," Vikram noted.

"A week's free gym trial and marathon training will be provided to all participants at our 40 fitness centers across the city," he added.

The US-based Snap Fitness forayed into India five years ago with its first fitness centre in Bangalore.