Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Anti-smoking campaign by running marathon' that was published in Newsband

Anti-smoking campaign by running marathon

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Kripa Sagar is the resident of Navi Mumbai. She is known for her entrepreneurship. She is 46 years old and yet she has decided to run a 26.2 mile marathon every month starting March 17 and that too in every Indian state to create awareness about the ill effects caused by smoking. She intends to cover all of India in 35 months.

Sagar will begin with Goa, and she will address the college students and members of social organizations on March 15. She will speak on the subject relating to her anti-smoking campaign.

Running a marathon requires concentration, determination, practice, training and a lot of stamina. Sagar believes that she has all these qualities and hence she has made up her mind to run for this noble cause.

Sagar has a history behind her which made her take up this anti-smoking campaign. She herself was a smoker until she lost two family members to cancer. It was then that she gave up smoking and started advising people to stay away from smoking. She began to jog a lot since that helped her overcome the addiction.

'A breath of air-Moving towards a smoke-free life' – this is the message which Sagar wishes to pass on to all the smokers in the country and world. Sagar believes that when one seriously thinks of remaining fit for a long time, one automatically gives up smoking. Daniel Vaz has been instrumental in making Sagar fit to run a marathon. Vaz coached her in such a way that Sagar has no doubt that she can achieve the goal of running a marathon time and again. She also intends to raise funds for charitable institutions. The popular Vasco Sports Club of Goa will organize the run.

It was running that enabled Sagar to quit smoking and that too without feeling any kind of withdrawal symptoms. She believes that intense aerobic activity can drive away addiction too.

Sagar has participated in lots of races – both biking and running. She is a member of Navi Mumbai Runners and Palm Beach Riders clubs. Many residents of Navi Mumbai are used to seeing her running or cycling regularly in the city. Sagar is undoubtedly one of the most adventurous women in Navi Mumbai.