‘Red Run Uttar Pradesh-2026’ Held at BBAU with the Message of HIV/AIDS Awareness; Participants from All 70 Districts Took Part
Lucknow: Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (UPSACS), organised the ‘Red Run Uttar Pradesh-2026’ Marathon on 7 October 2026. The event aimed to raise awareness among youth about HIV/AIDS while promoting healthy lifestyles, fitness, and a sense of social responsibility. Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor, BBAU, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. The event was organised under the guidance of Mrs. Amrita Soni, IAS & Project Director, Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (UPSACS). Apart from this, Dr. Sanjay Solanki and Mr. Dinesh Pratap Singh, Joint Directors, UPSACS, attended the event as Special Guests. Renowned athlete Anjali Chaurasia, retired hockey player Mr. Praveen Singh, and six-time National Champion and famous athelete Mr. Bhuvan Singh were also present. From the university, Prof. Pawan Kumar Chaurasia, the Programme Coordinator, made significant contributions to the successful organisation of the event. The programme commenced with the flag-off by the Vice Chancellor, who also extended his best wishes to all the participants.
Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor, BBAU, extended his best wishes to all the participants and said that such events serve as an important platform for strengthening awareness, self-confidence, and a sense of social responsibility among the youth. He encouraged the participants to take part with full energy and a positive mindset. He stated that the active participation of young people is the foundation for building a healthy, aware, and responsible society. He urged all participants to remain committed to their goals and move forward with discipline, determination, and consistent effort. He also conveyed his best wishes to all the participants and organisers for the successful conduct of the event.
On this occasion, Dr. Sanjay Solanki and Mr. Dinesh Pratap SinghJoint Directors, UPSACS, also expressed their views and highlighted the objectives of Red Run Uttar Pradesh-2026, the importance of youth participation, and the significance of HIV/AIDS awareness. They encouraged the participants and called upon them to take the message of awareness to every section of society.
Participants from all 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh enthusiastically participated in Red Run Uttar Pradesh-2026. The participants qualified for the state-level event after securing victories in district-level competitions organised in their respective districts. During the programme, the Chief Guest and Special Guests were welcomed and addressed the gathering. Representatives of the organising committee, media, volunteers, and sponsors were also presented with mementos and certificates of appreciation. Registration for Red Run Uttar Pradesh-2026 was free of cost, and all registration-related activities were conducted at BBAU. In addition, representatives of the AIDS societies from 18 divisions of Uttar Pradesh participated in the event. In recognition of their contribution and participation, all the representatives were honoured with mementos,medals and certificates.
In the 10-kilometre women’s category, Soni Devi of Varanasi secured the first position, Laxmi of Varanasi secured the second position, and Archana Yadav secured the third position, while Soni of Bareilly received the consolation prize. In the men’s category, Abhishek Verma of Deoria secured first place, Vidyasagar of Mau secured second place, and Ayush Pal Singh of Varanasi secured third place. Sunil Kumar of Aligarh received the consolation prize in the men’s category.
In the 5-kilometre women’s category, students of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) dominated the competition. Sanjana Devi of the School of Information Science and Technology secured first place, Binata Devi of the Department of Political Science secured second place, and Bhumika Banjara of UIET secured third place, while Pragya received the consolation prize. In the men’s category, Rajnish Kumar of SVM secured first place, Ravi Yadav of BBD Lucknow secured second place, and Atul Singh, also from BBD Lucknow, secured third place. Sawant Kumar of Sports College received the consolation prize.
The Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (UPSACS) honoured the winners with gold, silver, and bronze medals along with prize money. The participant securing first place was awarded ₹12,000, second place ₹10,000, third place ₹8,000, and the consolation prize winner received ₹5,000. All participants in the competition were also provided participation certificates. On the occasion, the organising committee conducted a Zumba session for all participants, in which they enthusiastically took part. A musical performance by the band further added energy and enthusiasm to the event. In addition, the organising committee conducted a tree plantation drive, conveying the message of environmental awareness and responsibility.
During the programme, representatives from UPSACS, including Mr. Pawan Chandel, Mr. Atul Dixit, Mr. Narendra Singh, and Mr. Ajay Shukla, were present. From BBAU, Prof. Dhirendra Pandey, Prof. Rajshree, Dr. Manoj Dadwal, Dr. Ravi Shankar Verma, Dr. Sudarshan Chakradhari, Dr. Arpit Shailesh, Dr. Mangaldeep Gupta, Dr. Abhishek Verma, Dr. Nitesh Verma, along with other faculty members, participants, and students, were present.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
