Former Australian Minister for Education and Sports and a passive runner Pat Farmer will begin his 65-day ‘Spirit of India Run’ to Kashmir from Kanyakumari on January 26, said Shoeb Samad, Regional Director (South), India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) here on Saturday.
Mr. Shoeb told The Hindu that the Australian Minister’s fete is aimed at cementing relations between India and Australia, encouraging tourism with a view to create awareness of India that has awesome tourism destinations and showcase it as a positive country in Australia.
The run will also support causes of charity, to raise funds for education of girl children with the help of Mahindra Group of Industries.
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The run by Mr. Pat Farmer is supported by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India - Public Diplomacy Division, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI), State Tourism Departments, State Tourism Corporations across the nation. Mr. Pat Farmer will complete the run at Srinagar on March 30, 2016. Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan will flag off the run in front of Gandhi Mandapam at 6.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Mr. Pat Farmer will run through Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir and cover a distance of 4,600 km.
As part of this event, the Ministry of Tourism will organise “Incredible India Evening” events in 16 places. In south India it will be organised in Kanyakumari on January 25, Varkala on January 27, Kochi on January 29 and Karwar on February 7, Mr. Shoeb added.