Over 3,000 people participated in the ‘Mammo run’, a half-marathon jointly organised by Dr. K. Shantha Breast Cancer Foundation and Dr. G. Viswanathan CBCC Cancer Care Centre on Sunday to raise awareness about the disease.
In the competitive 21.5-km segment, 350 runners took part in the race that started at Mambazha Salai at 6 a.m. They were joined by 3,000 runners in the non-competitive 5-km run from the Uzhavar Sandhai, Anna Nagar at 7.10 a.m. Both the events culminated at the K.A.P. Viswanatham Higher Secondary School in Thillai Nagar.
Commissioner of Police Sanjay Mathur and Corporation Commissioner T. Vijayalakshmi flagged off the 21.5-km and 5-km races respectively.
Inspector General Ramasubramanian, chief guest at the event, spoke about the importance of mammograms and early screening programmes for women to aid the early detection of breast cancer.
The races attracted a wide cross-section of city residents, from medical professionals to school and college students and a small section of senior citizens. Among the notable participants was 79-year-old Dr. Jayaram who completed the 5-km course within the stipulated time limit.
All three men of the 21.5-km event were from Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington.
Cash prizes estimated at Rs. 3 lakh were given to the victorious participants.
Results for the 21.5-km race: Men – 1st place - Ramachandran (1 hour , 14 minutes); 2nd place – Praveen Pawar (1 hour, 17 minutes); 3rd place - Regine Lal (1 hour, 17 minutes, 3 seconds).
Women – 1st place – Poonkodi (Gobichettipalayam Arts and Science College, 1 hour, 39 minutes, 40 seconds); 2nd place – Aishwarya (Kanninaadu group, Pudukottai, 1 hour, 41 minutes, 4 seconds); 3rd place – Renuka (Kanninaadu group, Pudukottai), 1 hour, 57 minutes, 7 seconds).
