PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun mayor Saurabh Thapliyal flagged of Madathon 2025, the run organised by Making a Difference by Being the Difference’ (MAD) on Sunday to mark the group’s 14th anniversary. The main aim of this race was to initiate a large-scale public campaign for the rejuvenation of Dehradun’s shrinking and diminishing water bodies, and to urge the government to formulate appropriate policies on this critical issue.
According to the organisers, about 5,000 youngsters gathered at Parade Ground to participate in the race. In addition to the youngsters, several senior citizens also participated in the race. A key highlight of this ‘Madthon’ was that it was a completely plastic-free marathon. The banners used for promotion were hand-crafted by MAD volunteers on cloth. Furthermore, sandwiches and refreshments for the participants were prepared by MAD volunteers themselves at the homes of their members the previous night, ensuring no plastic packaging or wrappers were used. The Parade Ground was decorated for the event in a manner that depicted the complete story of Dehradun’s rivers, primarily Rispana and Bindal – from their main origin to their confluence with the Ganga.
In the men’s category, Sabal Kandari, Kalam Singh Bisht, Laxman Lama and Nitin Bhandari emerged as winners. In the women’s category, Meena Kandari, Kanti and Alka secured victories. Special age categories were also included to encourage participation from all.
