As you read this, several thousand Mumbaikars (and those from other parts of India and abroad) of all ages, from varied walks of life, men and women, fitness enthusiasts, athletes and amateurs, would
As you read this, several thousand Mumbaikars (and those from other parts of India and abroad) of all ages, from varied walks of life, men and women, fitness enthusiasts, athletes and amateurs, would have possibly already crossed the finish line of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Some of these runners would have started at the crack of dawn, flexed and stretched and warmed up before beginning their long — 42 km in the full marathon category and 21 for the half — jog (in some cases, sprint) to the end. Still others will put on creative costumes or pick up placards and banners, and cavort through the route of the Dream Run, and raise funds and awareness for charitable causes while doing so.
And while each of these runners is a hero in himself/hero, there are some faces that will stand out even in the midst of the huge crowd — celebrities who we’re used to seeing at red carpet events or high-flying bashes, but who leave aside the make-up and put on their running shoes and work up a sweat for the causes they support.
Among the celebrities who’re participating in the SCMM this time round are Katrina Kaif along with celebrity fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala and jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali. All three will be running for the Swades Foundation. Anand Mahindra will run to raise awareness about his initiative for the girl child — Project Nanhi Kali, while designer Shaheen Abbas is supporting the Salaam Bombay Foundation, which works for child literacy. We spoke to these celebrities about the causes they’re espousing in this 13th edition, and what’s motivating them to make that dash to the finish line:
Tara Sharma: I have been running in the SCMM right since its first edition and I have enjoyed every single year. This year I will raise money for the Cancer Patients Aid Association and Teach for India. I will be doing the Dream Run, so it isn’t much of a hassle. I have been running every day for 15-30 minutes and have been consistent at it. Every year has been wonderful. As clichéd as it may sound, it feels great to raise money along with fellow Mumbaikars. The spirit of Mumbai comes alive. Everyone’s trying their best to raise money for a campaign. The atmosphere is great.
Farah Khan Ali: I strongly believe in Swades Foundation’s philosophy that India lives in her villages and we cannot rise to our true potential as a country without a fundamental transformation in the lives of people in rural India.
Sanjeev Kapoor: Like every year, this year too I will run the Mumbai Marathon for increasing awareness about autism. We run to raise funds for the Forum for Autism, a parent support group and a registered charitable trust, that helps in creating awareness and also actively helps parents of children affected by autism.
Yasmin Karachiwala: This year I will run the marathon for Swades Foundation along with Katrina Kaif. I have been prepping by sleeping early, being hydrated and consuming enough carbs through the day. I haven’t run the marathon in the last four years so it feels like the first time. This marathon is special because I am running for a great cause and playing a small role to help empower rural India.
Priya Dutt: During my visits to Sonave, a tribal village in Palghar, and my interactions with the villagers, I felt a lot could be done to fulfil the needs of this community. Some of the problems faced in this village are poor infrastructure and roads, low electricity, poor education, unhygienic water, no sanitation and malnutrition. In spite of all these difficulties, one of the most striking things that I noticed was the motivation of the children to study. They displayed an innate desire to study, which has motivated me to support them. This is a cause that is close to my heart and I hope you will support me. I’m raising funds to build computer labs and equipping the schools with an e-learning system.
Atul Khatri: I always run the Mumbai Marathon in a Superman costume with a theme. This 13th year will be one of the toughest Mumbai half marathons for me as I have not trained enough. But somehow, I can’t miss running in (what is) Mumbai’s biggest street festival.
Water scarcity has been plaguing the globe but especially here in Maharashtra, the situation has been alarming. A drought has been declared in 15,000 villages, affecting nine million farmers. I will be running this year with this bucket — it’s a simple prop and hopefully effective in spreading awareness.
Shaheen Abbas: You cannot run 21 km in a marathon overnight. Preparation and coaching are a must I believe in running in the most natural conditions. Beaches, hills and parks are my favourite places to train... I also think that achievements are not only a matter of luck, they are also a matter of dedication and hard work. It is not something you should wait for, it is something to be accomplished!
