World Cancer Day: Thousands join OTV Mini Marathon to raise awareness about cancer

On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Odisha’s leading media house OTV on Sunday organised a mini-marathon in Bhubaneswar. Despite the chilling cold conditions and fog, people from different walks of life joined OTV in the mini marathon having the theme of ‘let’s run towards life’.

The President of Hockey India, Dilip Tirkey graced the occasion as the chief guest. Also present were Dinesh Pruthi, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, Dr. Alok SRibastava, COO, Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar and Jagi Mangat Panda, MD, OTV. Several Ollywood celebrities, intellectuals, politicians, youths, and students also joined the marathon to spread awareness on cancer that started at 7 am from 7th Battalion Ground in Bhubaneswar.

Olympian Dilip Tirkey said, “OTV has time and again organised awareness programme for AIDS and Cancer. Due to our busy schedule, we neglect our health. On this day, let’s join hands today to spread awareness about the deadly disease.”

Ollywood superstar Siddhant Mohapatra said, “Awareness is the only way to prevent cancer. Early diagnosis, proper treatment, and mental and physical health should be given more focus. We should ensure that cancer survivors should be treated with equal respect. At the end of the day, exercise is a must. This mini-marathon is also a form of exercise. Apart from this, we should be extremely careful about the food that we eat and the water we drink.”

Actress Elina Samantaray who also graced the occasion said, “First of all I thank OTV for giving me the opportunity to join this awareness programme. This is not the first time, but OTV has been time and again putting up efforts to create awareness about various diseases. Today on World Cancer Day, I want to say prevention is better than cure. I urge everyone to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Please start exercising and eating healthy.”

“I want to thank OTV for organizing such creative awareness programmes every year. We just have one life, so we should stay healthy and keep society healthy. Everything starts with our health and hence we should start exercising, running, walking and eating healthy,” said actress Anu Choudhary.

Similarly, actor Sabyasachi Mishra said, “This is a very big step towards cancer prevention. We all should be aware of not only our health but also the health of our family members and people close to us. I thank OTV for their efforts in this noble cause and for making us a part of it.”

Odia actor Satyaki Mishra who has survived cancer also took part in the programme and urged near and dear ones to treat cancer survivors with respect. He thanked his wife who stood through thick and thin during his cancer phase.
“I will admit I eat paan and gutkha which was the reason for my cancer. But, I battled the deadly virus, thanks to my wife. She has brought me back to life. Out of everything I have gone through, all I can say is please immediately give up all your bad habits of drinking, eating paan and gutkha. It might seem cool, but it isn’t really cool. My journey was very pathetic, so I don’t want anyone to go through what I have gone through. So, please immediately give up your bad habits, bad lifestyle and bad thoughts.”