Organised with the assistance of various NGOs, VEERATHON was for all ages and levels of fitness – whether a seasoned runner, an adventure enthusiast, or just looking for a fun day out.
According to a press release the aim behind Veerathon 2025 is to support the transformation of ancestral homes of the brave Veterans and Veer Naaris’ (widows of fallen soldiers) of the Indian Armed Forces residing in the hills of Uttarakhand, into homestays thereby promoting tourism, helping reverse migration and also securing our borders.
Organised by Metamorphes Foundation and NBT, Veerathon 2025 had 5 categories namely 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km Run, 5 km Run, 3 km Run for casual runners, 1 km Fun Run for Children, to encourage young participants and raise awareness from an early age about fitness and patriotism.
Cash prizes worth upto INR 2 Lakhs were awarded to winners in various categories along with exciting goodies to participants. Martyr Tushar Mahajan Memorial Trust, sponsored cash prizes in the female category. The Trust is established by the parents of Captain Tushar Mahajan, a para commando who lost his life during anti terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The prizes were given away by Chief Guest Major General Rohan Anand, Additional Dierector General of NCC in Uttarakhand. and Rear Admiral Peush Pawsey, Joint Chief Hydrographer, NHO, Indian Navy was the Guest of Honour.
Few interesting highlights of the event were – Para athletes running 5 Km, senior citizens in the age group of 60-80 years 10 kms, Blade runner, a sari clad lady running 12km, a family of a mother and 2 sons winning in 10 kms category, a 71 year old runner winning prize and children with special needs from Raphael Centre taking part in the 1 km fun run for children.
Veerathon’s Star runners like Major General Vikram Dev Dogra (Retd) AVSM, (Ironman of India), Major DP Singh (Blade Runner), Ashok Bhanse (Running with Prosthetic leg) and Major Shashi Mehta ran along with other runners. Metamorphoses Foundation was supported by Honorpoint, Support Our Heroes (SOH), represented by Col R D Sharma (Retd), Col Sorabh Jain (Retd) and Mr Gaurav Shukla who participated in the Marathon.
