Chennai, August 2017: Kotak Wheelchair Marathon – the first and the only wheelchair marathon in India organized by the disabled, is an initiative by The Spinal Foundation in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank to empower people with disability to live life to the fullest and at their highest potential.
Justin Jesudas, International Paralympic Swimmer & Rifle Shooter, whose brainchild the Kotak Wheelchair Marathon is, said,“People with disabilities who have picked up a sport continue to work on it, stay fitter and healthier. It also helps them to be more active in society. This should be the true mission of every stakeholder in the society for rehabilitation of persons with disability.’
Karthi Marshan, Senior EVP & Head – Group Marketing, Kotak Mahindra Bank said,“Kotak is committed to promoting an inclusive society in India.This event highlights the grit, determination and will power of people who refuse to let any obstacle, no matter how challenging it might be, prevent them from achieving excellence. We see a strong fit in partnering with The Spinal Foundation in this pioneering initiative in India.”
The 2017 edition, the second one, of Kotak Wheelchair Marathon has been scheduled for Sunday, September 3, 2017. It will start and finish at Olcott Memorial Higher Secondary School – an institution that has a rich history of 124 years.
A Half Marathon (21.1 kms), 10kms run and a 5 kms run / walk are part of the 2017 event. Kotak Wheelchair Marathon encourages people with and without disabilities to participate in the run together, enabling them to understand and connect with each other.
Participants at Kotak Wheelchair Marathon 2017 will also have the opportunity to run alongside:
- Ankur Dhama, India’s first blind runner to make it to the Paralympics
- Major D P Singh, a war hero who runs half marathons on a prosthetic leg
- Shailesh Kumar, India’s fastest half marathoner on a wheelchair
There are three ways in which one can participate in Kotak Wheelchair Marathon 2017:
- Register & run at the event in Chennai
- Sponsor a participant
- Register & run where you are
Participants can register at www.thespinalfoundation.in. The registration fee for the event is Rs 750/-.The entire surplus generated from the event will go towards providing good quality mobility devices for persons paralysed due to spinal cord injury.
About The Spinal Foundation:
The Spinal Foundation is the Pan-India Self-Help Group for persons with Spinal Cord Injury. (Helpline 1800 425 1210).
About Kotak Mahindra Bank:
Established in 1985, Kotak Mahindra Group is one of India’s leading financial services conglomerates. In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. (KMFL), the Group’s flagship company, received banking license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), becoming the first non-banking finance company in India to convert into a bank – Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.
Effective April 1, 2015, ING Vysya Bank Ltd. merged with Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. As on June 30, 2017, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, has a national footprint of 1,362 branches spread across 689 locations and 2,173 ATMs.
The Bank has four Strategic Business Units – Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Treasury, which cater to retail and corporate customers across urban and rural India.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.kotak.com/
For more information, please contact:
| S VaidyanathanThe Spinal Foundation
Phone: +91 97909 36844 Mobile: vaidynath@gmail.com
|
Rohit RaoKotak Mahindra Bank
Phone: +91-22-61660001 |
Phiroza ChoksiKotak Mahindra Bank
Phone: +91-22-61660001 |
