Ratia, September 16:- With the aim of promoting sports in the area and preventing drug abuse, the ‘Run for Drug-Free Ratia’ programme was organised by 2 Kadam and Ratia Sports Club in collaboration with Fit and Fly Gym, Cricket Base Academy and Yuva Arorvansh Welfare Trust. Additional SHO Praveen Kumar attended the programme as the Chief Guest, while Rajpal Grover, President of Arorvansh Mahasabha, was the Special Guest. Social worker Harbans Khanna was also present, and the programme was presided over by Dr. Piyush Arora. A large number of people participated in the programme, with children, youngsters and people from older age groups taking part in 3, 5 and 11-kilometre races and spreading the message of drug-free living across the Ratia area.
Dr. Naib Singh Mander efficiently performed the role of stage host during the programme. The race was jointly flagged off by Chief Guest SHO Praveen Kumar and Special Guest Rajpal Grover, President of Arorvansh Mahasabha Ratia. Considerable enthusiasm was witnessed for the race, with youngsters and children running with great energy and a positive spirit. On the occasion, the Chief Guest and Special Guest appreciated the organisers for conducting the race programme and said that it was a good initiative to protect the younger generation from drugs and connect them with sports. They said that such programmes should be promoted extensively in the area. Programme organiser Dr. Piyush Arora thanked the youth, children and eminent members who participated in the event and said that their enthusiastic participation had helped make the programme successful. He said that this initiative would serve as an inspiration for the younger generation and society to stay away from drugs and that similar programmes would also be organised in the future.
Children from various academies in the city participated in the programme in large numbers along with their coaches. At the conclusion of the race, the participants who took part in the programme were honoured with medals, certificates and mementoes. Refreshments were also served at the conclusion of the programme.
Those present on the occasion included Cricket Base Academy coach Jatin Balana, social worker Happy Singh Sethi, Chirag Grover, Maninder Singh Pannu, Raghubir Singh, Dr. Deepak Goyal, Kuldeep Singh, Bittu Sardana, Vijay Chilana, Dr. Bishan Das, Parvinder Singh, Birpal Kalotha, Manoj Kumar, Ramdas Monga, Harjitpal Kakkar, Rajinder Monga, Ranjit Singh Bittu, Davinder Grover, Prem Sethi, Krishan Monga, Kumar Sachdeva, Sunil Monga, Satish Arora, Rajiv Sood and Inderjit Singh. Children from Nagar Academy and Mother India School, along with participants from Guru Nanak Defence Academy, Shekho Academy and various other institutions, as well as residents of the area, participated openly in the programme.