Run Kerala Run the promotional event marking the forthcoming national games scheduled to be held in the State, attracted massive participation at the various points in the district.
The mega run in Kottayam town witnessed massive participation with thousands of students, youth and middle aged men and women join the run which was flagged off by film actor Dileep from Kottayam Police Parade ground. District Panchayat President Nirmala Jimmy; District Collector Ait Kumar; and others were present.
The mass race was led by children followed by skaters and employees of the district collectorate, and members of various NGOs. The race concluded at municipal grounds at Thirunakkara and was addressed by Dileep. K.M. Mani, Finance Minister, administered the oath.
Mass races were also held at Ettumanur, Kanjirappally, Pampady, Uzhavoor and scores of other spots in the district.
In Alappuzha
Many thousands participated in the ‘Run Kerala Run’ organised at 545 centres in Alappuzha district on Tuesday. According to official sources, 4,24,000 persons participated in the programme across the district, making the event a grand success.
The mass run that was organised in Alappuzha town was jointly flagged off by K.C. Venugopal, MP, and G. Sudhakaran, MLA, from the EMS Stadium at 10.30 a.m. Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu administered the pledge to 5,000 participants of the mass run that concluded at the T.V. Thomas Memorial Municipal Town Hall.
Those who participated in the event included district police chief K.K. Balachandran; Alappuzha Municipal Chairperson Mercy Diana Macido; additional district magistrate T.R. Azad; former MLA A.A. Shukoor; and actor Saranya Mohan. Nearly 50,000 persons participated in mass runs organised in other parts of the town.
Other MLAs and people’s representatives, irrespective of political affiliations, participated in the mass runs organised at other parts of the district. Educational institutions, clubs, cultural organisations, residents associations, service and voluntary organisations also participated in the event across the district.
Large turnouts were registered for the event at Cherthala, Kuttanad, Kayamkulam, Charummoodu, Mavelikara, Chengannur and Muthukulam. Mass runs were also organised at Thuravoor, Aroor, Poochakkal, Muhamma, Mararikulam, Ambalappuzha, Edathua, Haripad, Mannar and Vallikunnam.
In Thodupuzha, the child victim of parental torture, who was under the foster care of a hospital authority, also joined the Run Kerala Run programme organised on the premises of the hospital.
His caretaker Ragini reached the spot with the boy in a wheel chair on Tuesday morning. He was handed over a flag with the runners following him.
Shafeeq, who is yet to fully recover from the damage to the brain, is being given accommodation at a separate part of the hospital with Ragini looking after him following the second phase of treatment at the Vellore Christian Medical College. The expenses for the treatment was provided by the State government after his plight came out in the media two years ago.
