Forging bonds through marathon

In an attempt to boost tourism and project the national Capital as the most important tourist destination, Delhi Tourism in association with India tourism, Delhi and the Ministry of External Affairs, government of India organised the one of its kind ultra-marathon ‘The Spirit of India Run’ by Pat Farmer on Monday. 

Pat Farmer entered Delhi through Badarpur-Delhi border on Monday at 9:30 am. On this occasion KB Sharma, General Manager, DTTDC; PS Mehra, Financial Controller, DTTDC; Arun Srivastava, Regional Director, India Tourism; Abhishek Vashisht, an International shooter representing Air India and other senior officers of DTTDC, representative of IATO welcomed and felicitated Pat Farmer.

Students from DIHM and Amity University gathered at Badarpur-Delhi border (near Toll Plaza) to welcome and cheer Pat Farmer from where he ran all the way to India Gate and President House. He also addressed a media gathering organised at Dilli Haat, INA at 7 pm, which was followed by a cultural programme. Pat Farmer is running over 4600 km in 65 days starting from Kanyakumari and finishing in Kashmir. He runs approximately 70 kms every day. He started his run on January 26 celebrating India’s Republic Day and Australia Day. Before entering Delhi, Pat Farmer completed more than 3000 kms distance since he started from Kanyakumari.

‘The Spirit of India Run’ is aimed at cementing relations between India and Australia; encourage tourism and personal relationships with a view to create awareness of India as a ‘Must Experience’ destination for travellers from Australia; and support causes and charity which in the current endeavour is to raise funds for education of girl child. 

This run, which has provided a huge opportunity to various tourism destinations across the run route, is expected to showcase important tourism attractions of Delhi in Australia thus projecting Delhi as a Tourist destination which will help in increasing the tourist flow from Australia and other countries.

Pat Farmer is an ultra-Marathon runner from Australia, who holds multiple world records for endurance running and has run from the North Pole to the South Pole, and across Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Middle East and North America. 

Pat has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes during his 20-year running career and in this process he has earned a huge fan following across the globe who follow him on social media wherever he runs.