Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2024 raises 1 lakh meals for children and animals through #RunForZeroHunger

 Strengthening Vedanta’s mission of nourishing lives and fostering One Health 

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc Ltd & ED, Vedanta Ltd. and Dino Morea, Actor & Event Ambassador, flagging off the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2024.

Khel Today  Bureau

Jaipur: The 9th edition of the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon (VPCHM) concluded today in Jaipur, showcasing an extraordinary display of community spirit and determination. Almost 15,000 runners participated in support of Vedanta’s #RunForZeroHunger movement, raising 1 lakh meals for children and animals. Under this initiative, for every kilometer run by participants, Vedanta committed to nourish a child and feed an animal through its social impact arm, the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF).

In the 2023 edition of VPCHM, the contribution of the runners led to the provision of more than 1 lakh meals to the children of Nand Ghar, AAF’s flagship Women & Child Development project, which constitutes a network of modern, state-of-the-art Anganwadis. In this year’s edition, AAF extended its commitment beyond nourishing children to include animals, recognizing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment under the ‘One Health’ approach. This ‘Meals for All’ initiative will benefit animals through AAF’s animal welfare project, The Animal Care Organization (TACO), in addition to children across 6,600 Nand Ghars, operating in 15 states across India. Building on the success of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon earlier in October, which raised 10 million meals, VPCHM 2024 further amplifies Vedanta’s commitment to eradicating hunger and malnutrition across the nation.

Organised by AnyBody Can Run (ABCR), a virtual running platform that allows people to participate in various running challenges online, and supported by Vedanta, the marathon was flagged off at NRI Chauraha, Mahal Road in Jaipur by Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc Ltd & Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd, and Dino Morea, Actor & Event Ambassador, Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon. The marathon featuring three categories: the 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km Cool Run, and 5 km Dream Run.

Reflecting on the success of the Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “The Vedanta Pink City Half Marathon 2024 was a celebration of community spirit and shared purpose, bringing together thousands of runners united by the cause of #RunForZeroHunger. Every step taken during the marathon brought us closer to our mission of nourishing children and feeding animals. At Vedanta, this commitment extends beyond the marathon through our initiatives in Rajasthan. Our extensive network of Nand Ghars is dedicated towards ensuring holistic development of children, while our collaborations with Ranthambore National Park and the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve underscore our dedication to animal welfare. With the incredible support of the marathon participants, we have raised over 1 lakh meals. This inspiring milestone is a testament to the power of collective action and fuels our confidence to create an even greater impact in the future.”

Dr. Manoj Soni, Founder of AnyBody Can Run (ABCR), highlighted the transformative impact of the marathon, saying “Running is a metaphor for life — pushing boundaries and embracing challenges. Today, every runner has not only crossed the finish line but also contributed to a larger mission. It’s heartwarming to see how this event inspires change, one step at a time.”

As a lead up to the race day, mini marathons were organised in Jaipur and Barmer that brought people together for the cause. Indian sprint athlete, Sufiya Sufi also lent her support to #RunForZeroHunger.

This marathon reflects the power of participative sport for social change where each runner contributes to a better tomorrow. Each participant received a finisher’s medal, crafted from the purest, high-grade zinc sourced from Rajasthan’s Zawar Mines, produced by Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company. This symbolizes the enduring value of every runner’s effort in supporting the #RunForZeroHunger cause.

VPCHM 2024 builds on Vedanta’s legacy of leveraging sports as a platform for fitness, community engagement, and social impact. The Vedanta Group continues to champion initiatives that address critical societal challenges and drive positive transformation across the country.

Vedanta Group through its subsidiaries, Hindustan Zinc Ltd and Cairn Oil & Gas, has been making an impactful multi-dimensional contribution to Rajasthan, from sustainable growth to economic and community development. Cairn Oil & Gas is recognized as the largest private oil and gas exploration and production company in India, accounting for more than 25% of India’s total domestic crude oil production. Hindustan Zinc Ltd is the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer, recognized for its leadership in operational excellence, innovation, and ESG practices.