Former Australian MP and ultra-long distance runner Patrick Farmer today expressed the hope that he would raise 1,00,000 Australian dollars for educating the girl child in India after he completed a marathon run from Kanyakumari to Srinagar in 64 days.
“We will definitely raise 1,00,000 Australian dollars for the cause. Fund-raising is going on in Australia too for educating girl children from very, very poor families in India.
There would also be auctions of my shoes,” he said at an event organised to felicitate him on the completion of ‘Spirit of India Run’ from Kanyakumari to Srinagar.
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Mr. Farmer, who has run from the North Pole to the South Pole and across Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Middle East and North America, has raised millions of dollars for various causes during his 20-year running career.
“It (running from Kanyakumari to Srinagar) was the most amazing experience I ever had. India is such a diverse country, everyday was so different,” he said.
Addressing the event, Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi described Mr. Farmer as the “Brand Ambassador of Incredible India in Australia” as his run would inspire Australians to visit India.
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Mr. Zutshi announced that a ‘Festival of India’ will be held in Australia this year to boost tourism.
After setting off on January 26 in Kanyakumari, Mr. Farmer traversed through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
With an average 80 km run per day, he covered over 4,600 km in 64 Days.
The filming crew, accompanying Mr. Farmer, will also produce a documentary for TV networks in Australia.