Noted athlete Pat Farmer to reach city next week

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 11

Australia’s noted ultra-marathon athlete and former politician Pat Farmer (53) will reach the city next week and run for 40 km here. 

Farmer’s ‘Spirit of India Run’ kicked off from Kanyakumari, the southern-most tip of India, on January 26. He is scheduled to reach the district on March 19, where he would cover nearly 40 km. 

Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Mahindra Foundation, his run, covering 4,600 km, is supposed to culminate in Sri Nagar. 

Dubbed as ‘public-diplomacy initiative’ to promote India-Australia relations, the event was started on January 26, when India celebrates Republic Day and Australia its National Day. 

The run is also supposed to raise money and create awareness for the education of the girl child. 

Farmer would be treated as the ‘state guest’ when he reaches Punjab. The district administration held a meeting regarding the arrangements for the run. Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat directed the departments concerned to see to it that the run didn’t face any hiccups at any point. He also directed the Sports Department to tell sportspersons to join Farmer during his run. 

He would be received by the district administration near Behlolpur village. Coming from Rupnagar, Balachaur, he would be received by the district administration officials, sportspersons near Behlolpur village in Machhiwara tehsil, where the run would be routed through Kohara, Sahnewal, Tibba Road and Ferozepur Road. 

After the night’s stay at a city hotel, he is expected to run through PAU, Hambran, Jalandhar Bypass and Laddowal, where he would be seen off on March 20. 

The DC said it would be a great opportunity for youngsters in the district to run with noted ultra-marathon athlete for a cause.