5 things you must know about Pinkathon

With International Women's Day just behind us, it is only apt that Pinkathon is getting all the attention it rightfully deserves. After Bangalore, the event is all set to capture and motivate the spirit of women in Hyderabad from various age groups and walks of life.The all women's run is scheduled to be held in the city of pearls on March 15. Here are 5 things you must know about the event:

#1 Encourages fitness

In a time when body shaming and eating disorders are being increasingly talked about as a serious problem among young women, the founders of Pinkathon use this event as platform to spread the message of fitness.

Actor and model Miling Soman, who is an advocate of fitness himself, has repeatedly mentioned in interviews that many women do not feel like running or going to the gym for fear of beong judged and ridiculed due to their bodies. However, he has encouraged all women to come forward and participate in Pinkathon in order to drive home the message that fitness is not about body shaming, but about leading a healthy lifestyle.

#2 Larger than ever!

Pinkathon was conceptualised in the year 2012 in Mumbai and since then, the event has grown leaps and bounds. Its upward trajectory has been an astonishing one, with the number of participants in each city nearly doubling each year.

The current year is witnessing the third leg of the Pinkathon event and it is going to be held in seven major cities across the country. While the number of participants last year across six cities was around 50,000; this time the figure is expected to be a staggering 75,000.

#3 Celebrating womanhood

At this year’s edition of the Bangalore Pinkathon, spectators got to witness a very rare yet empowering sight. A group of around 100 mothers ran the 3 km or 5 km races with their babies strapped to them, showing the true determination a woman possesses.

Pinkathon encourages such displays of courage and motivates women everywhere to develop a healthy lifestyle in order to keep not only cancer, but also other ailments like osteoporosis, diabetes and hypertension at bay.

Every event has a group of cancer survivors participating, in order to prove to other women suffering from the deadly disease that it not impossible to fight it and lead a healthy life after cancer.

#4 Real support for the cause

A very large and sizable portion of the funds collected through the numerous registrations goes directly to Women’s Cancer Aid which works towards creating awareness and providing both financial and medical support to cancer patients.

This is quite unlike several other charitable events wherein the mechanism required for the funds to reach a deserving organisation are lacking.

#5 Something for everyone

With events such as a 5 km run and a 3km Pink Ribbon Walk apart from the 10 km marathon, Pinkathon ensures that everyone from first-time runners and amateurs to semi professionals and fitness enthusiasts can easily participate.

A full marathon is around 42 kms and a half marathon is 21 kms; making them quite out of reach for beginners who want to try their hand at an event of such magnitude and gain some experience of running a marathon.

Pinkathon gives them the opportunity to do so and with great ease, facilitating them with high standard arrangements that include proper hydration stops and timing chips.

So what are you waiting for? Get set for Pinkathon!