Actor Milind Soman, who won the title of 'Ironman' last year for being fit as a fiddle at 50, believes that "women should celebrate their own health" as only then they can give their 100 percent to their family.
Milind, who was here on Thursday to launch the fourth edition of Pinkathon Empowering Indian Women, a women's marathon aimed at spreading awareness about breast cancer, said "participants for the marathon have increased a lot" over the years. He said it's because women are mentally becoming more comfortable with the thought that they can do it.
"Society itself stops many women from coming out. Some say that 'you cannot do this, this is not for you, you don't have the time, there are more important things'. But we say that even if you have to be a mother, take care of kids, family, job -- all of it, you have to give 100 per cent to yourself too. You have to give time to yourself," Milind told IANS here.
The marathon will take place in the capital on September 4 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Also present at the conference were Ranjana Kumari, Director of Centre for Social Research and President Women Power Connect; Deveika Bhojwani, Vice President of Women Cancer Initiative; social activist Rhea Sharma and Nishtha Satyam, Head - Partnerships, M & E and Public Relations UN women, who expressed their wholehearted support for the cause.
"Pinkathon is like a celebration. Here, nobody judges you. Women should celebrate their health. We have training programs in every city. We now organise Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 10,000 women run at each of these events over the V wash Plus 3km, Mia By Tanishq 5km, 10km and United Nations HeforShe 21km distances," said Milind, who is also the creator of Pinkathon.
"They run in running gear, but also in saris, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable," he added.
The Pinkathon team is also organising events such as the Cancer Shero Trek. A Shero is a cancer survivor and this event is dedicated towards felicitating them.
Starting with a trek, the event felicitates the inspiring cancer survivors honouring them with an "I Inspire" medal. In Pinkathon, 50 visually impaired girls from NAB and Adventures Beyond Barrier and 40 hearing impaired girls will be participating among other categories.
To prepare them for the main day, unique training sessions are designed.
That apart, every participant of Pinkathon Delhi 2016 can choose to avail a free medical check-up or a free mammogram if the participant is above 45 years of age.
As a symbol of solidarity with women everywhere, every participant of the Pinkathon this year, across all eight cities, will be given a Tsunamika doll as their Finisher Medal.
--IANS
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