Pune: On the occasion of International Mountain Day on December 11, city-based Giripremi Institute of Mountaineering had organised several programmes including Mountain Run at Vetal Tekdi on Sunday. As many as 450 participants from all over Maharashtra came together at 6.30 am when the mountain run was flagged off.
The run was conducted in three categories including 10 Kilometres Pro, 10 Kilometres Amateur and 5 Kilometres Kids. In open category 5 kilometres walkathon was conducted for non-regular runners. Three male and three female winners from each category were selected.
The award ceremony of the run was conducted in the presence of CMD of Yashada Realty Vasant Kate, Industrialist Rohidas Gaware, Principal of Vikhe Patil Memorial School Mrunalini Bhosale, Deputy Conservator of Forest Department, Pune, Shreelakshmi Annabathula and Giripremi Trustee Anand Palande.
Umesh Zirpe, Giripremi’s expedition leader, said, “This was the second year of the run organised by Giripremi. UNESCO decided to celebrate International Mountain Day to spread awareness on saving the ecosystem and maintain its greenery as 70 per cent of the water comes from the mountains itself and to save to help the environment and people as well.”
“This year’s theme of the International Mountain Day was ‘Save Mountains’ and this activity helped reach maximum people and spread awareness of the preservation of mountain ecosystem. The Mountain Run is recognised by United Nations and it is a part of United Nations’ worldwide celebration of International Mountain Day. On December 11, Tuesday, Giripremi will worship the mountains in quarries at Hanuman Hill near Fergusson College,” he added.
