SRINAGAR: Indian-Australian endurance athlete Om Satija on Sunday completed his ambitious 5,000-kilometre “One India Run” campaign after reaching Srinagar, culminating a 110-day cross-country journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
The 23-year-old athlete, originally from Melbourne, Australia, completed nearly 4,950 kilometres before concluding the run at Zabarwan Park in Srinagar.
Speaking after completing the run, Om said the journey aimed to inspire young people towards fitness, discipline and a meaningful life.
“Youth must stay away from drugs and negative activities. Fitness is important not only for physical health but also for mental strength and confidence,” he said.
He urged young people to dream big and work hard to bring positive change in society.
“This run was not just about endurance, it was about showing that with discipline, consistency and purpose, anything is possible,” he added.
The initiative, titled “One India Run,” was launched to promote fitness, resilience, mental strength and social responsibility among youth while mobilising support for vulnerable communities.
Om averaged nearly 50 kilometres a day during the journey and aims to become the first person to run along India’s east coast and the youngest athlete to run the length of the country.
The campaign is also raising funds for the Udayan Foundation, which works for children from marginalised and leprosy-affected communities. Organisers said the initiative aims to raise Rs 60 lakh to support the education of nearly 1,000 children over the next five years.
According to organisers, around Rs 20 lakh has already been raised through public participation, community events and run club activations held in cities including Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Delhi and Ludhiana. (wth JKNS inpputs)
