Calcutta: Madhurr and Shilpa Jhawar wanted to celebrate their marriage anniversary on Sunday on a different note. So they took their son Shourya to Eco Park at the crack of dawn and let him take part in the third edition of Siddha Kiddathon, presented by Ladies Circle India in association with TTIS.
Reason? The family is passionate about running and want to lend a helping hand to underprivileged children suffering from cancer.
More than 1,800 children in the under-14 age group braved the winter chill to take part in different runs - Running Champs (4km), Super Champs (2.5km), Budding Champ A (1.25km for kids aged eight and above), Budding Champ B (1.25km for kids below eight years) and 600m Mom and Me Run, where the kids participated with their guardians.
There were no prizes for the toppers. It was all for the love of running and the enthusiasm was palpable among the young participants. In the end, all the participants got medals, certificates and goodies.
"This was the first time I took part in this event and I enjoyed a lot. My father has taught me everything about running," said Shourya, Class IV, La Martiniere for Boys, who regularly takes part in 100m races in school sports.
His father Madhurr, a 38-year-old businessman, has been taking part in road races for the past one-and-a-half years and has competed in more than 15 road races, including the last edition of Tata Steel Kolkata 25K.
Jhalak Rungta, Class VI, The Heritage School, took part in the 4km category with her cousin Vansh Rungta, Class VIII, St James' School, and enjoyed it so much that they wanted to run more. "It was amazing but it ended too fast. I think 4km is not enough," smiled Jhalak.
Ajab Zakir, an Upper KG student of Shri Shikshayatan School, was one of the youngest participants in the Budding Champ B category. "I have been running road races for the past four years and whenever I go out to run, Ajab accompanies me," said Abdul Kadir Zakir, the proud father.
Apart from the runs, the kids also enjoyed zumba sessions held before the runs. "It was great fun. I loved the zumba dance," said Mahhak Sethia, Class IV, Modern High School for Girls, who was among the first few finishers in the 4K category.
Bindu Jain, a homemaker, ran with 11-month-old Ayansh strapped to her in a front carrier in the Mom and Me Run. "I have taken part in all three editions of Kiddathon. In the previous years, I ran with my elder son and this year, the younger one accompanied me. It's a great initiative by Ladies Circle India that encourages kids to run and also contributes to the treatment of underprivileged kids," said the Ballygunge resident.
