Sixth Edition of COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai to be held on December 17

The Sixth Edition of COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai 2017 – Inspiring Partners Bajaj Electricals, India’s biggest women’s run to be held on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at R2, MMRDA Grounds, BKC. Online registrations for the multi-category run are open at www.pinkathon.in/mumbai for the VWash Plus 3km, 5km & Tata Salt Lite 10km run and for the 21km distance drop a mail on info@pinkathon.in.

Pinkathon - Empowering Indian Women, India's biggest women’s run to encourage and promote fitness & health among women and create awareness for Breast Cancer, Bone health, Thyroid disorder and other issues relating to women’s health is supported by United Sisters Foundation and promoted by Maximus MICE & Media Solutions. Super model, actor, Ultraman and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman formally announced the launch of the sixth edition of COLORS Pinkathon in Mumbai at a press conference held at Verbena, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Present at the conference were eminent dignitaries like Raj Nayak, COO, Viacom 18, Reema Sanghavi (Co-Founder Pinkathon & MD - Maximus Mice & Media Solutions Pvt Ltd), Actress, Comedian and Writer Mallika Dua, Sagar Boke, Head -Marketing, Consumer Products Business, Tata Chemicals, Devieka Bhojwani (Vice President – WCI), Dr. Shishir Shetty (Apollo Hospitals) and 101-year-old Mann Kaur, an Indian track – and – field athlete, she holds the world record in the over 100 years old categories along with three COLORS Pinkathon mascots who expressed their wholehearted support for the noble cause. Committed to encourage progress of women and move forward in life, India’s leading entertainment channel, COLORS has extended full partnership towards this cause by partaking in spreading the message of ‘wellbeing of women’ through this initiative.

Through the TATA SALT LITE 10KM run, Tata Salt Lite reinstates the importance of taking control of one’s own health and nurturing oneself. As a part of the brand’s association with COLORS Pinkathon, Active Living Partner Tata Salt Lite also launched its #GoActive Campaign through two digital films. The campaign inspires every woman, irrespective of her societal and financial status, to commit to an active lifestyle and take up running.

A crusader for women empowerment, Raj Nayak, COO – Viacom18 said, “Initiatives like Pinkathon are a great way to boost the confidence of women and strengthen the belief that women can do wonders! COLORS Pinkathon not only works for the wellbeing of women but also encourages meaningful participation of women in all aspects of life. COLORS has always lauded the contribution of women in a big way, be it at workplace or through the content it showcases. With such associations we envisage a better future for our women who nurture and shape us.”

Expressing delight on the launch of the sixth edition of COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai 2017 - Inspiring Partners Bajaj Electricals founder Milind Soman said, “We are very excited to bring COLORS Pinkathon to Mumbai once again for the sixth time. We are confident the city and its people will support us and help make this run a humungous success. Pinkathon is more than a Marathon. It is the seed of change and the beginning of a movement that is carried forward by a growing community of empowered women across India, who share a belief that a healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world begins with empowered women, first step in empowerment is taking control of your own health, respecting yourself and understanding and celebrating the value you bring to your family and society. Empowerment is not a gift of society; it is a gift you give yourself.”

The fitness icon further added, “Fitness is liberating. If a culture of regular exercise and fitness must take root in India, our women need to become aware about the benefits of fitness. They need to be able to get out and run, which doesn't happen enough due to various cultural reasons. We now organize Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 8000 women run at each of these events at the VWash plus 3km, 5km, Tata Salt Lite 10km and 21km distances. They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable.”

Reema Sanghavi, Co-Founder Pinkathon & Managing Director, Maximus MICE & Media Solutions Pvt Ltd said, “Besides Mumbai, Pinkathon has already been held in various cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Guwahati and Pune in the year 2017.  The multi-city national event has received an overwhelming expression of support with over 100,000 women of all ages, across different walks of life having participated this year. This number is expected to grow in leaps and bounds in 2018 with Pinkathon expanding to more cities. The campaign will be supported by an integrated communication plan which includes several pre- event activities like training runs for baby wearing mothers, first time women runners and cancer survivors. We have introduced events to encourage running across the strata of the society and age groups as well as differently abled. There will also be an extensive online campaign to reach out to the masses and help the movement grow. We have also introduced the traditional attired cycle really and the Fearless Midnight Run.”

Anant Bajaj - Joint Managing Director - Bajaj Electricals Ltd. said "Bajaj Electricals Ltd. has always collaborated with platforms that have worked towards women empowerment. We strongly feel that empowerment goes far beyond giving equal rights to women. It is about making women confident enough to trust themselves, act independently and most importantly to take control of one's own health and well - being. Pinkathon is an excellent platform through which we can achieve the objectives and at the same time women can be made aware of dreadful disease such as Brest Cancer through a Fitness Drive. We hope to continue this association with Pinkathon for the years to come as well.”

Expressing his views on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, Mr. Sagar Boke, Head–Marketing, Consumer Products Business, Tata Chemicals stated, “A healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world begins with women. The first step in empowerment is taking control of one’s own health

and nurturing oneself. By virtue of associating with Pinkathon, Tata Salt Lite seeks to motivate women to  run for their health, regardless of what society dictates. Tata Salt Lite, a low sodium salt, is ideal for people

who seek an active lifestyle. With the Pinkathon association, we not only hope to strengthen the brands Health credentials but also create a strong emotional connect with its consumers.”

Said Ms Devieka Bhojwani, Vice President, WCI “As you are aware Women’s Cancer Initiative- Tata Memorial Hospital, has been working, for the past 14 years, since its inception in 2003, on creating awareness on the importance of early detection of women’s cancers which could save many lives. I am more than delighted to be a part of the Pinkathon Initiative, to give visibility to this important issue, which affects so many women. Running is an activity that not only promotes wellbeing but also raises immunity levels and improves health, and helps protect against diseases like cancer.”

As a precursor to the main day, the team is organising unique events such as the Cancer Shero Trek for the cancer survivors. This event is dedicated towards felicitating these inspiring people. Starting with a trek, this event felicitates the inspiring Cancer Survivors honouring them with an “I Inspire” medal. In COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai, 50 Visually Impaired girls would be participating in the different run categories. To prepare them for the main day, unique training sessions are designed with the help & coordination of sighted runners. COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai - Inspiring Partners Bajaj Electricals is organising special training runs in various parts of Mumbai for the registered participants who have requested training for the main day. Fatema Shivanand Manthalkar, a 51 years visually impaired woman was announced as the mascot for the visually impaired squad who will be the running the VWash Plus 3km. 30 hearing impaired girls would be also participating in the VWash Plus 3km category.

Sonali Patil, a Cancer Survivor, was announced as the mascot for the 5KM category run and Mallika Dua was announced mascot for Tata Salt Lite 10 km. All of them were presented with the first bib.

As one-of-a-kind initiative, every single participant of COLORS Pinkathon Mumbai - Inspiring Partners Bajaj Electricals can choose to avail of a free gynaec consultation from our Healthcare partner Apollo Foundation or a free Mammogram if the participant is above 45 yrs. of age, the same is also transferrable.

Milind Soman also highlighted the concept of Pinkathon Ambassadors in every city who are passionate, extraordinary, committed men & women connecting for one cause – ‘health for every woman’. Each Pinkathon Ambassador is a part of the Pinkathon core team and registers all the women in their circle of influence. Pinkathon inspires everyone who believe that together, we can do more. Various initiatives are undertaken by the Pinkathon Ambassadors to connect with women across various strata of the society. ‘Pinkathon goes to School’ is another interesting concept to encourage Mother-daughter teams to run together. The idea is to encourage health & fitness at every age. There are over 300 Pinkathon ambassadors across cities working selflessly towards promotion the cause.

COLORS Pinkathon in Mumbai has received huge response from corporate sponsors like Colors, Bajaj Electricals, TATA Salt Lite, VWash Plus, Reebok, Apollo Foundation, Red FM, Bisleri.  Bajaj Electricals will be planting 1000 trees to commemorate the ‘Pinkathon going green’ in Mumbai.

The focus of India’s biggest women’s only running event, is to encourage an active lifestyle and overall fitness amongst women, while creating a much needed awareness about breast cancer and bone health and encourage thousands of new or first-timer women to take up running. All proceeds raised from the event will be used for the expenses incurred in organizing and marketing the event, and by the Women's Cancer Initiative in its fight against breast cancer. The official website for COLORS Pinkathon is  www.pinkathon.in through which participants can register online. Twitter Handle: @pinkathon10k

Pinkathon has won several national and international awards such as WOW Awards for Best Festival of the Year & Best Sports Event of the Year and EEMAX Global for Best Public Event of the Year for ticketed and non-ticketed category.