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Tata Mumbai Marathon: They beat cancer, and now they run to inspire

Several cancer survivors from Pune also participated in full and half-marathon segments in Mumbai on Sunday.

4 min readPuneUpdated: Jan 20, 2026 12:33 AM IST

Both Neha Ram and Anup Dhuria were supported by the Cancer Patients Aid Association. (Photo Credit: CPAA)

Neha Ram, 33, was in Class IX when she was diagnosed with blood cancer. Persistent fever, weakness and financial constraints made treatment a daunting challenge, but the Patna native — now settled in Mumbai — faced the disease with resilience and optimism. Like her, 30-year-old Anup Dhuria, a cancer survivor from Ayodhya who now lives in Mumbai, chose hope over despair.

On Sunday (January 18), the two took to the stage at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, participating in the Dream Run (Run in Costume) category to celebrate sporting legends and raise awareness about cancer.

“It was sometime in 2005 when doctors diagnosed me with blood cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). My parents went through their own stress as we faced financial difficulties but their love and support never wavered. This journey has taught me to stay strong and positive and with hope, survival is possible,” said Neha, who is currently pursuing her graduation while working in Mumbai.

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Anup, a commercial artist, recalled being diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 12. “My body had become very sick. But soon I learned that I had to be patient and also happy,” he said.

The duo appeared together on stage for the Run in Costume event. While Neha was dressed as Rani Laxmibai — sword and shield in hand — symbolically battling cancer, Anup wore a crab costume representing the disease.

Tata Mumbai Marathon: They beat cancer, and now they run to inspire

On Sunday (January 18), the two took to the stage at the Tata Mumbai Marathon, participating in the Dream Run (Run in Costume) category to celebrate sporting legends and raise awareness about cancer.

Bridging gaps in cancer care

For over five decades, the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) has worked to bridge critical gaps in cancer care with compassion, credibility and commitment. The organisation provides holistic, long-term support addressing both medical and non-medical needs, including financial assistance for treatment, nutritional support, counselling for patients and caregivers, prostheses, rehabilitation aids and end-of-life care.

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A visible symbol of CPAA’s sustained commitment is its uninterrupted participation in the Tata Mumbai Marathon since 2004. Through the platform, CPAA has mobilised thousands of runners, donors, volunteers and corporate partners to raise awareness and funds for cancer patients.

“For CPAA, the marathon is far more than a race — it is a movement that brings together changemakers who run with purpose and act with heart,” said Alka Sapru Bisen, CEO, Cancer Patients Aid Association.

Pune survivors take to the track

From Pune, several cancer survivors participated in the full and half marathon events. Among them was Sonia Soman, 52, an IT professional who runs a software product firm. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 31, Soman took up endurance running after completing her treatment.

Having previously run multiple 10-kilometre races, she completed her sixth half marathon (21.07 km) in 2 hours and 55 minutes at the event. Veteran Ironman Kaustubh Radkar, who coached several athletes including Soman, wrote on social media that “when preparation is honest, the body and mind respond even on the toughest days.”

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For Soman, life has been about taking things one day at a time. “I decided to start running at the age of 41 to celebrate ten years in remission. At one point, I was told about the potential side effects of my medication which could affect lung power, so I chose to take up endurance running. Later, I trained with Coach Radkar who explained the importance of recognizing one’s limits and not pushing too far. Of course, this was all after checking my health parameters. What has also helped me is staying positive and maintaining regular exercise,” she said.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting 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 defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a 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 was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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