October 21 will be celebrated as Pinkathon Day, with runs being organised in at least five countries and 50 cities, where women, along with their families and friends will participate. Milind Soman, model-actor turned fitness crusader, who launched the Pinkathon Marathon six years ago to encourage women to run, as well as to raise awareness about women's health, decided it was time to expand the concept to a Pinkathon Day (though in Maldives and the Middle East, it is being organised on October 19, keeping in mind the weekly off on Friday.)
“The idea of Pinkathon is clear. Women, we need you. Your families need you, and not just your children, but your society, country ....'' said Soman, adding that this time, they have decided to make women themselves take the lead in the initiative. Because, “in a culture like ours, that has no tradition of sports for all, or exercise or of healthy lifestyle practises, change is needed and women are the key to that change”.
So, using community running as a tool, Pinkathon and its ambassadors are working on the concept of women learning to spend some time prioritising themselves, for their physical and emotional well-being.
Each ambassador is tasked with starting a running group, around her place of residence. In eight cities, the concept has picked up rather well. The target is 100 cities. “We want, har ghar mein Pinkathon,'' say the organisers.
So, have you checked out where the pink run is in your neighbourhood next Sunday?