Sixth Edition of Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS concluded successfully with over 5000 women participants

Pune, October 30, 2018…The sixth edition of Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS, India’s biggest women’s run concluded successfully with an overwhelming response of over 5000 women participating for the VWash Plus 3km, 5 km & 10 km and 21 km of the multi-category run held on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the Mulik Ground, Pune. A team of visually impaired girls, hearing impaired girls, Cancer Sheroes, Baby-wearing mothers and senior citizens enthusiastically joined the run as well.

Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon – Empowering Indian Women, India’s biggest women’s run to encourage and promote fitness & health among women and create awareness for Breast Cancer and other issues relating to women’s health is supported by United Sisters Foundation and promoted by Maximus MICE & Media Solutions. Super model, actor, Ultraman and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman and Mann Kaur flagged off the multi-category run of the Sixth Edition of Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS.

Bajaj Electricals Ltd., a globally renowned and India’s leading consumer products company has come on board as title sponsors of Pinkathon, India’s biggest run for women after being the inspiring partners for last 4 years. Mr. Hemal Vadera, Head – Advertising, Digital & Branding of Bajaj Electricals Ltd. Said “Bajaj Electricals Ltd. has always collaborated with platforms that have worked towards women empowerment. We strongly feel that empowerment goes far beyond giving equal rights to women. It is about making women confident enough to trust themselves, act independently and most importantly to take control of one’s own health and well-being.

While our association with Pinkathon transcends the basic role of title sponsor, rather it gives us the opportunity to be the harbinger of change. It gives us an opportunity to effect change and act as a catalyst in empowering women, to embrace, who they are both internally and externally.”

Committed to encourage progress of women and move forward in life, India’s leading entertainment channel, Colors continues to extend support and remains on board as the presenting partners of Pinkathon and spread the message of ‘wellbeing of women’ through this initiative. A crusader for women empowerment, Raj Nayak, COO – Viacom18 said, “Initiatives like Pinkathon are a great way to boost the confidence of women and strengthen the belief that women can do wonders! Pinkathon not only works for the wellbeing of women but also encourages meaningful participation of women in all aspects of life. COLORS has always lauded the contribution of women in a big way, be it at workplace or through the content it showcases. With such associations we envisage a better future for our women who nurture and shape us.”

Expressing delight on the conclusion of the sixth edition of Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS founder Milind Soman said, “We were very excited to bring Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS to Pune for the sixth time. We were confident that the city and its people will support us and help make this run a humungous success. Pinkathon has carved a niche of being more than a marathon. While we conduct Pinkathon once a year in all the key cities, it is now being seen as the seed of change. It’s a movement that is carried forward by a growing community of empowered women across India through the year. These women share a belief that a healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world begins with empowered women, first step in empowerment is taking control of your own health, respecting yourself and understanding and celebrating the value you bring to your family and society. Empowerment is not a gift of society; it is a gift you give yourself. Our Pinkathon Forever community is spread across 100 cities and 10 countries. There are over 15000 women connected on the Pinkathon Forever facebook page and millions who get inspired daily to change their lifestyle and embark on a healthy and fit journey.”

The fitness icon further added, “Pinkathon Forever Training has created a culture of regular exercise and fitness which is taking root in India today. These initiatives are making our women more aware about the benefits of fitness. We encourage women to get out and run, which doesn’t happen enough due to various cultural reasons. We now organize Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 10000 women run at each of these events at the VWash Plus 3km, 5km, 10km and 21km distances. They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable.”

Reema Sanghavi, Co-Founder Pinkathon & Managing Director, Maximus MICE & Media Solutions Pvt. Ltd. said, “At the onset, I would like to acknowledge our title partner Bajaj Electricals and presenting partners COLORS for their extended support. We are proud of the association with like-minded partners to further the larger cause of Pinkathon in India. Pune is the seventh city in India where Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon presented by COLORS is being organized in 2018 in India. Previously, Pinkathon was organized at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Guwahati. We also had it in Kathmandu. Pune is abuzz with runners and fitness enthusiasts. We would like more women to take up their health seriously and participate this year. Besides Pune, Pinkathon will be conducted in Mumbai in 2018. The campaign was supported by an integrated communication plan which included several pre- event activities like training runs for baby wearing mothers, first time women runners, cancer survivors and visually impaired girls. We have introduced several new events to encourage running across the strata of the society and age groups as well as differently abled. The Fearless Midnight Run was organized to encourage more women to step out of their homes and take up their health seriously. We began the promo events with Independence Day Run in traditional attires. There was also an extensive online campaign to reach out to the masses and help the movement grow. The multi-city national event has received an overwhelming expression of support with over 100,000 women of all ages, across different walks of life having participated last year. This number is expected to grow in leaps and bounds in 2018.”

The various Pinkathon mascots of VWash Plus 3Km, 5Km and 10 Km categories successfully completed their respective runs yet again spreading the message that women can overcome any physical, mental and emotional issues if they focus on their life and take up their health and fitness seriously. Age, disabilities, illnesses or for that matter even clothes are not a deterrent anymore. With the Pinkathon’s one of a kind initiative, every single finisher of Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS received a beautiful Tsunamika medal, upcycled bag, free gynaec consultation from the healthcare partner Apollo Hospitals and a free mammogram if the participant is above 45 yrs of age. The benefit is also transferrable. There were green water stations set up along the route as well as a breast-feeding zone in the holding area for baby wearing mothers.

Results are as follows-

21 KM-

1. Swati Gadhave-(01:31:49)

2. Nayan Kirdak-(01:33:00)

3. Shilpa Kemble-(01:37:02)

10 KM-

1. Manisha Salunke-(00:38:41)

2. Priyanka Chavarkar-(00:39:49)

3. Sharmila Kadam-(00:45:43)

05 KM-

1. Shital Dukare-(00:20:25)

2. Vrushali Uttekar-(010:20:48)

3. Samiksha Khare-(00:21:43)

03 KM-

1. Akanksha Gaikwad-(00:12:55)

2. Avani Apte-(00:13:01)

3. Nikita Hajare-(00:14:07)

Bajaj Electricals Pinkathon Pune 2018 presented by COLORS has received huge response from corporate sponsors like Bajaj Electricals, COLORS, VWash Plus, Reebok, Enerzal, Apollo Hospitals, Bisleri, The Westin, Tropicana Essentials, WCI, PPL, IPRS, Bajaj CSR, Red FM, U.S. Polo, Vodafone, etc.

The focus of India’s biggest women’s only running event is to encourage an active lifestyle and overall fitness amongst women, while creating a much-needed awareness about breast cancer and bone health and encourage thousands of new or first-timer women to take up running. All proceeds raised from the event will be used for the expenses incurred in organizing and marketing the event, and by the Women’s Cancer Initiative in its fight against breast cancer.

Pinkathon has won several national and international awards such as WOW Awards for Best Festival of the Year & Best Sports Event of the Year and EEMAX Global for Best Public Event of the Year for ticketed and non-ticketed category.