2 Million Steps to Hope flagged off by thousands of students
By Dinesh Kamath
NAVI MUMBAI: With an aim to empower and
support women’s rights and to eradicate child/women abuse and exploitation, an
ultra marathon run ‘2 Million Steps to Hope’ was flagged off from the campus of
Bharati Vidyapeeth, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai on 16th January, 2017 at 9.30 a.m.
The Marathon, which has been organized by the NGOs - The Hope Place and Heart
Foundation under its STREE (Smash Tradition Rehabilitate Educate and Empower)
project will cover more than 1500 kms and will pass through the states of
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The Run will conclude on 18th
February, 2017 at Chennai. There are three main runners - John Moriarty
(America), Chris Joseph Smith (Australia) and one from India Mr. Tharun Kumar.
They will cover an average of 50 kms per day.
“As per
statistics, over 50% of human trafficking victims are children. Human
trafficking not only involves sex and labour, but people are also trafficked
for organ harvesting. Although human trafficking is often a hidden crime and
accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, researchers estimate that more
than 80% of trafficking victims are females. The runners will be spreading
awareness on this serious issue along the way,” said Dr. Jayakar Ellis,
President, Heart Foundation.
“We aim to
create awareness to ‘a level of discipline’ against child abuse, labour &
trafficking and create resources to sustain long-term rehabilitation of
children through NGO’s involved in rescue and rehabilitation, create awareness
to the general public and corporate through this Ultra-marathon, create nerve –
centres, self sustaining business models and contagious social media plans to
ensure that every child is a happy, healthy and a loved child in Society,”
stressed Godfrey Fernandez of The Hope Place.
“We are glad
to be partnering in this unique cause and an awareness on the above issues
should also be highlighted in schools and colleges” said Dr. Vilasrao Kadam,
Director, Bharati Vidyapeeth.
“We have
been participating in various marathons and have been especially practicing for
this event. We feel deeply about the cause and hope to make a difference
through this initiative” said Chris Smith. “I have been running marathon for
about 20 years for fun but six months seriously for this cause,” said John
Moriarty.
During the
event, an honorary doctorate was conferred on Mr. Lalit Varma, resident of Navi
Mumbai at the hands of Dr. Vilasrao Kadam for his untiring and silent support
for the social cause through the Heart Foundation. “The selection of Mr. Lalit
Varma for the honorary doctorate is a very joyous process. It is my privilege to honor him as I have
seen his work for almost a decade” said Dr. Jayakar Ellis.
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