“Cancer is a comma and not a full stop,” says Anju Gupta, a spirited 64-year-old runner who lives in Dwarka, New Delhi. When she was diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer in January 2015, these words kept her strong through the gruelling treatment.
Anju was determined not to let the disease dictate her life. So in September 2015 she signed up for her first ever Pinkathon, a country-wide women’s running event. By November 2015, she had managed to rid her body of the cancer. “I decided to live my life with new vigour. Exercise helped me achieve this,” she says.
She was advised to stay active, eat healthy, and practise yoga. By and by this became her lifestyle. She started jogging and eventually running.
“I treat it like a hobby. I’ve made new friends through running. It gives me comfort in difficult times, energy when my reserves are low, and joy when I least expect it,” she adds.
Cancer survivors at Pinkathon Cancer Shero Walk, New Delhi 2019
Milind Soman, who began the women’s-only race, says she “has been leading the Pinkathon by example,” adding that the true spirit of the run is self-belief , a quality he sees in Anju . She is an inspiration to the community of 40-odd cancer survivors and those undergoing treatment, who rally every year at the event, he adds. On August 19th she lead the Cancer Shero’s Walk held at Nehru Park, motivating others to take charge of their well-being.
When not lacing up Anju, is busy tending to her vegetable garden. She shows off her collection of bonsais and dwarf fruit trees: lemons, oranges, guavas and mosambis .
This year, she will be participating in the 5-kilometre category to mark her fifth Pinkathon. “The atmosphere at the event super-charges you. There are activities like Zumba and push-up challenges that are great fun,” she says. Though age is catching up, the desire to go the extra mile outruns the pain in Anju’s bones. She is fuelled by inherent joy.
Pinkathon Delhi is scheduled on September 8th; register at pinkathon.in
