Kolkata, January 7, 2024: The youth wing of Friends of Tribals Society, FTS Yuva, orchestrated its annual flagship event, Ekal Run, at Godrej Waterside, Kolkata. Over 5000 participants engaged in various categories of timed runs—21km, 10km, 5km—and a non-timed/fun run of 3km during this marathon, drawing individuals of diverse age groups.
The inauguration of the Ekal Run was graced by Geeta Phogat, an acclaimed Wrestler, along with the presence of notable figures such as Neel Bhattacharya and Rahul Dev Bose, actors; Debadrita Basu, actress; Soumojeet Adak, director; A K Arya, DIG BSF; Surjeet Singh Guleria, Dy. Inspector General (G), HQ SDR (EC), BSF; CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice President of ICAI; and numerous other eminent personalities.
Gaurav Bagla, President of FTS Yuva, Kolkata Chapter, expressed his delight, stating, “Having Geeta Phogat join us for the 5th Edition of Ekal Run was truly overwhelming. Running epitomizes life—you reap what you sow. This aspect makes Ekal Run all the more thrilling for the residents of the City of Joy, particularly with its motivating initiative to educate rural children. Participants received T-shirts, goodie bags, and food boxes, while winners and runners-up were honored with medals and mementos.”
The event boasted the participation of key members from FTS Yuva, including Anirudh Modi as the mentor, Niraj Harodia as the National Coordinator, and a roster of dedicated individuals serving various roles within the organization.
About FTS: Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to uplifting underprivileged rural children. They operate 49,203 One Teacher Schools, known as “EKAL VIDYALAYA,” providing non-formal education to 15,19,721 children in India’s remotest villages. FTS focuses on holistic child development, striving to uplift entire villages. With 37 chapters across India and Kolkata as its headquarters, FTS received the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize 2017, honored by former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
