Kolkata is going to be the proud host to the
largest marathon in the eastern part of the country. Kolkata Marathon, as it is
called, is to be run on January 5th. The 2014 marathon is
going to be a benefit race for underprivileged cancer patients at the Tata
Medical Center located at Rajarhat on the outskirts of the city. In fact, the
full name of the marathon is Tata Medical Center Kolkata Marathon 2014. Governor
MK Narayanan will flag off the race.
Logo of Kolkata Marathon 2014
Cancer benefit
According to a report in a 2012 issue of the internationally reputed
journal, Lancet, in the case of cancers common to both sexes, West Bengal
and the north-eastern states (along with Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir) recorded
“particularly high rates of these specific cancers.” The Indian National Cancer
registry also shows that the maximum number of specific cancers comes from eastern
India.
To address the needs especially of patients from eastern India, the Tata
Medical Center was set up as a Rs 350-crore not-for-profit cancer hospital. Significantly,
50% of the beds here are reserved for the underprivileged. Over 13,000 patients
have been treated to date, and hundreds are swarming in. Being a not-for-profit
centre, with the thousands of patients, there is an urgent need for funds. It
is here that the Kolkata Marathon comes in.
Run for a cause
All proceeds barring the registration fee will go towards the Tata
Medical Center, to be used for the benefit of underprivileged cancer patients.
So people are being encouraged to register and run for the event. For
non-runners, there are even short-distance walk events. There is also a Corporate
Run. Hence, there is something for everybody to enjoy, and thus to support a
noble cause.
Registration
The entry fee of Rs 300 includes Rs 100 as registration fee, Rs 100
towards a T-shirt and Rs 100 as donation to Tata Medical Center.
One can register online here: http://www.kolkatamarathon.com/registration.aspx
For registering in the Corporate Run, one can also
send a mail to events.tatamedicalcenter@gmail.com
Entry forms and T-shirts can also be collected at the
following centres:
Kolkata Marathon
Office
c/o Kennel Club
Maidan Tent
Mayo Road (Guru Nanak
Sarani)
Kolkata - 700016
Phone: (033) 2231-3338
/ 65103372
High Life Management
Stephen Court
Lift No 3, 1st Floor
18 A Park Street
Kolkata - 700071
Phone: (033) 2226 8024,
4007 3985
Forum Mall
Lala Lajpat Rai Sarani
Sreepally
Bhawanipore
Kolkata - 700020
(T-shirts here only
from December 29, 2013 to January 4, 2014)
Famous faces
Bollywood celebrities like Sonam Kapoor and Vishal Bharadwaj have been
roped in to endorse and run for the event. Other famous from the film industry to
be associated include Waheeda Rehman, Sharmila Tagore, Aparna Sen, Javed
Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Kajol and Usha Uthup.
The
promotions started on November 12, 2013 with a special event at Taj Bengal,
when former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly formally announced the event. Former
Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia, actors Prosenjit and Rituparna
Sengupta, and tabla maestro Bickram Ghosh are expected to run alongside Sourav.
Theme song
The Taj Bengal event was also where the wonderful anthem of the
marathon, Dil diyey mon diyey, dil diyey douroben, was inaugurated. In
fact, ‘Dil Diyey Douroben!’, that is, run with a heart, is also the motto of
the marathon event. There is an English version of the anthem as well. The
lyrics have been penned by Geeta Gopalakrishnan, the director of donor relationships
for the Tata Medical Center hospitals, and one of the prime movers behind
organising this run. The anthems have been set to music by Usha Uthup, who has
also sung both the versions along with others.
Enjoy the Bengali version here - http://kolkatamarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/dildiye02.mp3
And the English version here - http://kolkatamarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Dildiye1.mp3
A popular event
The Kolkata Marathon has been held since 2005 and it is very popular,
not just with professional runners but with anyone who wants to run for fun.
Last year saw 25,000 participants. Both men and women are allowed
participation, and people participate enthusiastically, even for the
short-distance races.
The
marathon aims to promote athletics in the state, and in general, give Indian
athletes a platform to showcase their talent. Winners of the Kolkata Marathon
have gone on to participate in international marathons in New York and Bangkok.
The races are open to athletes from all over the world.
Categories and prizes
Kolkata Marathon has five categories. Besides the full marathon of
42.195 km, there are four other categories. The five races begin at five
different times, with the main marathon starting earliest, at 6 am.
• Marathon – 42.195 km – starts at 6 am
• Mini Marathon – 11 km – starts at 6.05 am
• Fun Run or Walk – 4.2 km – 7 am
• Corporate Run or Walk – 4.2 km – 7.10 am
• School Run – 4.2 km – 7.15 am
The marathon also offers good prize money, which is the reason for the
huge enthusiasm from professional runners. The first twenty position-holders in
the main marathon as well as the half-marathon receive prize money.
For the full marathon:
1st – Rs 320,000
2nd – Rs 160,000
3rd – Rs 80,000
For the mini marathon:
1st – Rs 110,000
2nd – Rs 55,000
3rd – Rs 30,000
Go Kolkata, run! Dil diye douroben!
This is a great opportunity for people to run for a cause. Of course,
the professionals would compete for the main events, the full and the half
marathons. For the rest, whether one wants to run or walk, this is ample
opportunity to get together for supporting the fight against a dreaded disease
like cancer.
So Kolkata, run… dil diye douroben!
