The entire textile supply chain of Maharashtra, including cotton farmers, took part in the world’s 1st Textile Community Run – ‘Texathon’, held this Sunday in Mumbai. Organised for a social cause, ‘No Naked Child’, the marathon was flagged off by Kavita Gupta, Textile Commissioner of India.
The cause ‘No Naked Child’ is aimed at providing clothing to underprivileged children across the country. Sasmira Alumni Foundation (SAF) was the organiser of the run.
Around 2,000-odd runners, 50 cotton farmers from Vidarbha and other parts of the state, alumni of the Sasmira Institute of Textiles, family members of the forgotten textile workers and more joined the first-of-its-kind run. The 10,000-kilometre run kicked-off from Indu Mills and traversed through Cadell Road, Kirti College, Catering College, old bungalow of David Sassoon, Century Bazaar, Mayor’s Bungalow etc.
“I am extremely happy that SAF has put together this first-of-its-kind event in the world which throws light on two key aspects, one is the cause of No Naked Child, which means clothing for the underprivileged through the run, and other is the Physical Fitness, which takes the backseat in this otherwise glamorous world. Texathon has thus aimed to bring two energies together, making it a memorable event for the textile fraternity,” said the Textile Commissioner.
As a part of the initiative, SAF has partnered with Goonj – an NGO that addresses the basic need of clothing for kids who cannot afford to buy it. Through this partnership, SAF will collect surplus garments from the industry; while, Goonj, through its wide network, will distribute them to children.
