NOT A GOOD IDEA: SEEMAN - Chennai International Half Marathon - Chennai gears up to run, for a cause

THE Chennai Marathon gets bigger this year. With professionals and people from different walks of life having already sweated it out to get fit for the event on Sunday morning. One lakh participants are expected to take part. But this year, it also comes with a theme:`To beat Diabetes get to the Road and Run'.

Fr Jegath Gasper of Tamil Maiyam, the organisers of Give life Chennai International Half Marathon, says: "I ask Chennaiites to come out of their homes and join the run. Chennai being the diabetic capital of India, there is no better way to beat it than staying fit. This will go a long way in creating a healthy Chennai."

"The whole idea is to create awareness and make people socially conscious. Participating in a run for a cause is the beginning," he said and added that funds raised through last year's event were used to help 14,800 children from broken homes. This time they plan to help 8,000 more and they hope to achieve the target of reaching out to 25,000 children who do not have the means for education.

Kanimozhi, MP, who is part of the organising committee, said: "People should participate in this marathon because this is the place we can meet old friends and have a great time."

To be flagged off at 6 am for men and 6.30 am for women from the War Memorial -- where it will also end -- the 21.09 km half marathon is open to all above 18 years. The registration fee is Rs 100.
For the 7 km Chennai Marathon, also open to all, the registration fee is Rs 30 and it will be flagged off at 7.30 am. The wheelchair run of 500 meters will start at 8.30 am. d In the half marathon, 10 internations al athletes are expected to participate.

The half marathon has three categories for both men and women: international, o national and State (Tamil Nadu).
o "The first three places in each categoe ry has a prize money . In the internation al category the prize money for the first e place is Rs 5 lakh, followed by Rs 3 lakh e for second and Rs 2 lakh for third. For - the national and State winners for both d genders, the prize money for the first, second and third places are Rs 1 lakh, Rs d 75,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively .

- As a prologue to this marathon, the 9 Tamil Maiyam had few token runs by e joining hands with the students; Neth . rodaya, the organisation for the visually o challenged; SICA (South India Culinary 0 Association); and the IPS officer's Wives e Association.
t For registration, and more details log on to www.givelife-chennaimarathon.com Film director Seeman on Friday demanded that the Chennai half marathon be scrapped as a sponsor to the event, Idea Cellular, has `links' with a Sri Lankan telecommunication operator that was supporting its armed forces Malaysia-based Axiata holds a major stake in Idea Cellular, he claimed. "In fact, KP or Kumaran Pathmanathan of the LTTE was arrested while he was in the guest house of Axiata in Malaysia," he alleged As quid pro quo, Axiata got contracts for its mobile operations in Lanka's Vanni region, Seeman said "Either scrap the marathon or throw out Idea from your list of sponsors. Else, Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam and the PDK will organise protest demonstrations," he warned

-Source From Expressbuzz