Marathoner interacts with students

Patrick Farmer, Australian ultra marathoner, who is on the 4,600-km long ‘Spirit of India Marathon’ from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, reached here on Friday.

Mr. Farmer, who is also a former MP, began his marathon from Kanyakumari on January 26, and is expected to reach Srinagar in Kashmir by March 30.

The students of sports hostel welcomed Mr. Farmer at Kinnimulki and ran with him to the district stadium here, where he participated in an interaction programme with the students of Dr. G. Shankar Government First Grade College and Post-Graduate Centre, here.

Mr. Farmer said that he was on a marathon run to raise funds to promote education of girls in India.

“My goal is raise 1,00,000 Australian dollars for that cause. At the moment, I think we have raised around 25,000 Australian dollars. We will raise the remaining money by the time I make it to Kashmir,” he said.

Another reason for him running the marathon was that he could inspire people. “If this [marathon] was easy, none of you would be listening to me, none of you would be inspired by my efforts. You are watching my efforts because I am travelling enormous distance, yet I am only an ordinary human being,” he said. “So, whenever you think you are worn out, you cannot go on and don’t have the strength to be something special or be somebody special, you have to believe in your heart that you can achieve anything with all your heart. That is why I am doing this journey,” Mr. Farmer said.

“Remember this day on March 30, when I finish this run in Kashmir. Remember, I came to your school. Remember that an ordinary man did something extraordinary. And if I can do it, you too can do it,” Mr. Farmer said to wide applause from the students.

P. Nagaraj, Assistant Director of Tourism, Roshan Kumar Shetty, Assistant Director of Youth Empowerment and Sports, were present. After the interaction, Mr. Farmer carried on with his marathon to Kundapur.