Numbers cheer as mammoth fund-raising effort nets record amount before race day
Race day from an earlier Mumbai Marathon
The 19th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) to be run in the city on January 21 has seen 267 NGOs collectively raising a record-breaking Rs 58 crore for different causes, it was announced at a press meet at the marathon’s press centre in SoBo on Tuesday afternoon. The United Way Mumbai (UWM), is the event’s philanthropy partner. Event organiser, Procam’s spokesperson said, “We see the charity graph on the ascendant. See the evolution of philanthropy from a cumulative total of Rs 43 lakh by 12 NGOs in the inaugural edition, to overall surpassing Rs 400 crore through all the editions and benefiting over 750 NGOs.”
George Aikara, CEO, UWM, said, “We have been the philanthropy partners since 2009 and have witnessed the marathon’s evolution into a strong catalyst of social impact.” Manisha Khemlani, CEO, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust who raised Rs 7.6 crore through the years, making her the highest individual fundraiser in the race’s history said amidst huge applause, “My mission is my family and being the CEO of the organisation, I am fortunate to be participating in raising funds for the marathon. As a former athlete, I also believe in the fitness cause.”
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Vivek Singh, Jt MD, Procam International said smiling, “Runners have already collected over Rs 58 crore this year, a feat that has never been achieved before race day.” Singh also said there were so many causes benefited through the fundraising but it is not numbers alone that make the difference, there are some life-changing events that have taken place through the TMM, one that cannot be explained by statistics alone.
Singh said, “The event has contributed very substantially towards women’s empowerment. Today, there are so many women running in this event. A housewife, a professional, a student, started lacing up their shoes and started running early in the morning, stepping out of their homes to train, thanks to the marathon. It was so hugely empowering for them.”
This year as part of The Green Bib initiative, TMM and UWM have raised over R27 lakh to plant 4,371 trees. The TMM Green Bib is an initiative that allows runners to contribute to the plantation and maintenance of trees. The donations have come from over 2,500 runners. The trees will be planted in the Solapur district.
4,371
No of trees to be planted as part of The Green Bib initiative
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