“This avenue is simple for us. The event is so full of genuineness. This is a cause towards the betterment of the girl child, it gives us a good feeling. If you cannot do something big and meaningful, at the very least one can support a cause that is,” said Vinay, a working professional, jogging enthusiast and a volunteer at the Contours Women's Day Run held recently.
The Sree Kanteerava Stadium was abuzz at 6 on a Sunday morning. Over 1,800 runners had gathered, delighting in the dance and music performances around them. The run was dedicated to helping educate the girl child through Asha, a not-for-profit organisation. The chirping of the birds in Cubbon Park mingled with the collective thumping of footsteps and the chatter of the participants as they jogged through the park to complete the course.
“Participants are here to enjoy their Sunday morning and contribute towards a cause. The run itself is non-competitive. The idea is to combine fun, health awareness and a noble end in one event,” summed up Chandra Gopalan, Director, Contours India and a veteran runner.
Chandra also added that this run was a tribute to, “Women who achieve so much in life through perseverance, hard work and passion and are yet silent about it. They multi-task and need to balance both work and personal lives.”
An equal number of men too turned out at the run, supporting the women in their life. The run featured children from Asha. Indira, a volunteer and a runner with Runners High, a running group where Chandra is a coach, expressed the common belief of the participants.
“The very fact in contributing for Asha is heartening. It makes people come forward to run and volunteer. We run apart from this too, but the idea of doing something good, makes this run so very special.” The collaboration between Asha and the Contours Women's Day Run is now in its fourth year and they have successfully secured the future of over 600 children.
The Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, once said: “Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong.”
Echoing the sentiment behind these words, Chandra finished by sharing her future plans for the run. “The idea is to encourage more women to come forward, stay fit, enjoy and what’s more, they contribute to a true cause.”
