Umeed KiRun: How an annual cancer awareness run in Pune has become a community movement

4 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 4, 2026, 11:33 am

Dilip Gavade was 45 when he was diagnosed with oral tongue cancer, which he attributes to years of gutkha and paan consumption. He underwent major surgery during which half of his tongue was removed, followed by intensive treatment that included 30 sessions of radiotherapy and five cycles of chemotherapy; the final cycle was particularly challenging.

For six months after surgery, he survived on a milk-based diet and then focused on exercising regularly as part of his recovery. More than a decade later, Gavade has returned to his wholesale fruit business, walking 8 to 10 kilometers a day and interacting with cancer survivors as part of the Umeed Cancer Support Group.

On February 8, Gavade will participate in the ‘Umeed KiRun’, an emblematic initiative of the Punecancer support group that was created a few years ago. According to founder and cancer survivor Anoop Mehta, the group’s goal is simple. “We believe that life is bigger than cancer,” Mehta said. Gavade, who even undertakes the Katraj-Sinhagad journey, agrees. “I am determined to make the most of my life and live positively,” he added.

umeed Padmashri Murlikant Petkar, war veteran and India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, will be the chief guest. (Photo: Umeed)

‘Umeed KiRun’, an annual cancer awareness run, has become a powerful community movement. This year, the race will be held on February 8 at SRPF Ground, Pune. Padmashri Murlikant Petkar, war veteran and India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, will be the chief guest. “It’s more than just a marathon; ‘Umeed KiRun’ is our collective responsibility towards cancer patients and survivors,” Mehta added.

“We also provide emotional and psychological support to cancer patients and their caregivers by facilitating survivor interactions, motivational sessions and community bonding initiatives,” Mehta said, adding that her organization believes that healing is not limited to medical treatment alone.

On an average, more than 1,500 participants take part in the ‘Umeed KiRun’ every year. This includes hundreds of cancer patients, including children, doctors and caregivers, as well as running enthusiasts and volunteers, reinforcing the belief that the fight against cancer is a shared journey.

Recognizing the physical limitations faced by children undergoing cancer treatment, Umeed has introduced a special section for children within the event. This allows them to experience joy, inclusion and encouragement in a safe, non-physical and stress-free environment. This careful initiative ensures that young patients remain emotionally engaged and feel supported during a challenging phase of life.

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umeed Recognizing the physical limitations faced by children undergoing cancer treatment, Umeed has introduced a special section for children within the event. (Photo: Umeed)

A ‘sick buddy’ for support

A key highlight of ‘Umeed KiRun’ will be the launch of Umeed’s Disease Buddy course, a professionally designed and structured initiative aimed at training cancer survivors or people who want to help as ‘Disease Buddies’ to patients currently undergoing treatment.

These ‘friends’ will provide emotional support, motivation and practical guidance based on lived experience, helping patients face treatment with greater confidence and comfort. “The course has been developed with the guidance of professionals working in the field of psycho-oncology, ensuring a sensitive, ethical and responsible approach to patient support. Through this initiative, Umeed aims to create a strong and compassionate support network where no patient feels isolated during treatment,” Mehta said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a senior editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, he is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism on health, science, environment and research developments. She also has a keen interest in covering women’s issues. Professional Background Education: Gold Medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and Masters in Literature. Author: She is the author of the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist of the WHO. Key Focus: Combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human interest narratives. Awards and Recognitions Anuradha has won several awards including Press Council of India National Award for Excellence in Journalism in Gender Based Reporting Category in 2019 and Laadli Media Award (Gender Sensitivity -2024). She received the Lokmat Journalism Award (Gender Category-2022) and was also shortlisted for the RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism-2021. Her first book, At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the inaugural Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization, was also nominated in the People’s Choice category of the JK Paper AUTHER Awards. She has also held competitive fellowships including Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious India 2025 cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Featured Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer and Specialty Healthcare “Tata Memorial finds a way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells” (November 26, 2025): Report on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, Diet and Purpose; How a 97-Year-Old Professor Challenges Aging” (November 15, 2025) Report on Professor Gururaj Mutalik, the first head of department at Pune’s BJ Government Medical College, who at 97 attributes his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose 2. Environmental health (“Breathless” series. Pune”) Prolonged exposure to even “moderate” air causes chronic heart, lung and kidney problems” (November 26, 2025) – Part of a research series highlighting that even “safe” pollution levels are harmful to vital organs. “For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was a 6-8% increase in medicine sales” (November 23, 2025) – Using commercial data to demonstrate the direct link between air quality and respiratory diseases in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News “They Didn’t Let Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Disease Stop Them From Traveling” (December 22, 2025) – A collaborative article featuring survivors sharing practical tips for traveling with chronic illnesses. At age 17, his blood pressure shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study points out why hypertension in children and adolescents doubled between 2000 and 2020” (November 12, 2025) – a report that focuses on a 17-year-old’s hypertensive crisis and reflects the growing global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Infrastructure and Recognition To promote science and communication and gender diversity: IUCAA professor featured in Nature” (November 25, 2025): Covers global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe” (December 3, 2025): A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe had only 1.5 billion years. , one of the first to be seen so far Signature Beat: Health, Science and Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her reporting on COVID-19, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed information on the trials of Covishield and Covaxin. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, and often profiles women researchers who are breaking the “leaky pipeline” in STEM fields. health experts from the institutions.
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