Australian marathon runner Pat Farmer to run the length of India

orissadiary.com

New Delhi: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in close co-ordination with the High Commission of Australia, New Delhi is organizing ‘Spirit of India Run’ by Mr. Pat Farmer, a long distance runner, who has also served as a Member of Parliament from Sydney and as Assistant Minister for Education and Sports.

Mr. Pat Farmer has run from the North to the South Pole, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Vietnam etc. Mr. Farmer’s ‘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 tourism destination and showcase it as a positive country in Australia; and support causes and charity which in the current endeavour is to raise funds for education of girl child with the help of the Mahindra Group.

‘Spirit of India Run’ by Mr. Pat Farmer is supported by Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India - Public Diplomacy Division, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI), State Tourism Departments, State Tourism Corporations etc.

Mr. Pat Farmer proposes to run from Kanyakumari to Srinagar and would be accompanied by a television crew which would cover the entire run and prepare a documentary that would be screened multiple times on Australia's Channel 9 network.  Mr. Farmer proposes to start the Run on January 26, 2016 at Kanyakumari and finish the run at Srinagar on March 30, 2016.

‘Spirit of India Run’ will commence in front of Gandhi Mandapam, Kanyakumari on 26.01.2016 around 07.00 AM.  Shri Sajjan Singh Chavan, IAS, Collector, Kanyakumari District will flag off the run.

Mr. Pat Farmer will run through the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir and cover a distance of 4600 km. (approx) in 65 days.

Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has identified 16 places en-route to organize ‘Incredible India Evening’ events. In South India, these events will be organized at Kanyakumari (on 25.01.2016), Varkala (on 27.01.2016), Kochi (on 29.01.2016) and Karwar (on 07.02.2016).

As the run is aimed at cementing of relations between India and Australia and enhancing the image of our country, wide publicity may be given to this event in print, electronic and social media to gain maximum mileage out of it.

As part of the support for the Spirit of India Run event M/s Parveen Travels, Chennai has agreed to sponsor a Volvo coach from Chennai to Kanyakumari for students and media persons interested to join the run with Mr. Pat Farmer and publicize the event.