MEDICA Run with Arun

4th & 5th Dec, 2010

Medica Superspecialty Hospital, in association with Ruchi Realty and West Bengal State Council of Sports, had organised an ultramarathon in Kolkata on the 4th & 5th December. India’s leading ultramarathoner Arun Bhardwaj ran non-stop for 24 hours, covering 186 km in the city, bettering his previous best of 161 km. His attempt made it to the Limca Book of Records.

The run, called “Ruchi Realty presents Medica Run with Arun”, was flagged off by Hon’ble Minister of Sunderban Affairs and Sports & Youth Services, West Bengal, from Khudiram Anushilan Kendra on 4th December at 2.30pm and ended at Medica Superspecialty Hospital on 5th December.

Arun Bhardwaj is a 41-year-old government servant. Born in the small village of Baghpath in UP, he spent most of his childhood in Meerut. Stalked by Malaria since early childhood and having to undergo repeated surgery for removal of a tumour, Arun, however, was determined to do something exceptional, to leave a legacy for his daughter that she could be proud of. He began running when he was 17 and by 20 was covering 6km in 20 minutes. Since then Arun has developed into an ultramarathoner, with the Bhagwad Gita helping him build on his mental endurance.

Arun Bhardwaj has participated in a number of national and international ultramarathon races and won accolades both in India and abroad. Recently, he has been invited to participate in the Badwater marathon 2011, held annually in California. Touted as the ‘toughest race in the world’, this run covers 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, in temperatures up to 130F (55c). It is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. This legendary event pits 90 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements. Participation in this race is by invitation only.

The run in Kolkata was organised to salute the grit and determination of Arun that has got him so far and to help him with funds to enable him to participate in the Badwater Race. It was Medica’s attempt to stand by its philosophy to promote fitness through sports and a promise to stand by our athletes and sportsmen.

Joined by hundreds of sports lovers at various points during his run, Arun crossed the hospital’s threshold to great cheers and the strains of a song specially composed for the occasion by Rupam Islam of Bangla rock band Fossils to lyrics by national award winning lyricist Srijato. To welcome him and salute his spirit and stamina were present a number of the city’s stalwarts from various fields. Shri Kanti Ganguly handed Arun a cheque of Rs 5 Lacs from the Sports Council.