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

A flagship initiative of the Umeed Cancer Support Group, this year’s ‘Umeed KiRun’ will be held at the SRPF Ground, Pune, on February 8.

4 min readPuneFeb 4, 2026 11:33 AM IST

‘Umeed KiRun’, an annual cancer awareness run, has grown into a powerful community movement. This year, the run will be held on February 8 at the SRPF Ground, Pune. (Photo: Umeed)

Dilip Gavade was 45 when he was diagnosed with oral tongue cancer, which he blames on years of gutkha and paan consumption. He underwent a major surgery during which half of his tongue was removed, followed by an intensive course of treatment that included 30 sessions of radiation therapy and five cycles of chemotherapy—the final cycle being particularly challenging.

For six months after the surgery, he survived on a milk-based diet and later focused on regular exercise as part of his recovery. More than a decade later, Gavade has returned to his wholesale fruit business, walks 8-10 km daily, and interacts with cancer survivors as part of the Umeed Cancer Support Group.

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

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

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

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

On average, over 1,500 participants are part of the ‘Umeed KiRun’ each year. This includes hundreds of cancer patients, including children, doctors, and caregivers, along with running enthusiasts and volunteers— reinforcing the belief that the fight against cancer is a shared journey.

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

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Recognising the physical limitations faced by children undergoing cancer treatment, Umeed has introduced a special kids’ section within the event. (Photo: Umeed)

A ‘disease buddy’ for support

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

These ‘buddies’ will provide emotional support, motivation, and practical guidance based on lived experience—helping patients navigate treatment with greater confidence and comfort. “The course has been developed with guidance from 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, compassionate support network where no patient feels isolated during treatment,” Mehta 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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