Dehradun: Veerathon 2025 was held in Dehradun on Sunday, March 23, 2025. This half marathon premier event featured multiple race categories. VEERATHON was for all ages and levels of fitness – whether you're a seasoned runner, an adventure enthusiast, or just looking for a fun day out.
The aim of Veerathon 2025 was to support the transformation of ancestral homes of the brave Veterans and Veer Naaris’ (widows of fallen soldiers) of the Indian Armed Forces residing in the hills of Uttarakhand, into homestays thereby promoting tourism, helping reverse migration and also securing our borders.
Organised by Metamorphes Foundation and NBT, Veerathon 2025 had 5 categories namely 21 km Half Marathon, 10 km Run, 5 km Run, 3 km Run for casual runners, 1 km Fun Run for Children, to encourage young participants and raise awareness from an early age about fitness and patriotism.
Cash prizes worth upto INR 2 Lakhs were awarded to winners in various categories along with exciting goodies to participants. The prizes were given away by Chief Guest Maj Gen Rohan Anand, SM, ADG NCC Uttarakhand and the Guest of Honour Rear Admiral Peush Pawsey, Joint Chief Hydrographer, NHO, Indian Navy.
Notable winners were Col Krishan Badhwar, Capt Anuj Kumar, Maj Shashi Mehta and Pooja Negi. Some highlights were Para athletes running 5 Km, people running in the age group of 60-80 years 10 kms, Blade runner, a sari clad lady running 12km, a family of a mother and 2 sons winning in 10 kms category, a 71 year old runner winning prize and children with special needs from Raphael Centre taking part in the 1 km fun run for children.
With an impressive 800 plus runners participating, Veerathon was a resounding success in its very first year.
Veerathon’s Star runners like Major General Vikram Dev Dogra (Retd) AVSM, (Ironman of India), Major DP Singh (Blade Runner), Ashok Bhanse (Running with Prosthetic leg) and Major Shashi Mehta ran along with other runners.
Metamorphes Foundation was supported by Honorpoint, Support Our Heroes (SOH), represented by Col R D Sharma (Retd), Col Sorabh Jain (Retd) and MrGaurav Shukla who participated in the Marathon.
Support Our Heroes NGO has been assisting needy Ex-soldiers and their families since 2017 across 20 states, particularly those excluded from existing policies or facing long delays. Also a mention about Martyr Tushar Mahajan Memorial Trust, who sponsored cash prizes in female category, established by the parents of Captain Tushar Mahajan.
Next year version of Veerathon will provide free participation for winners of Veerathon 2025.
