Marathon held on World Heart Day in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: A mega marathon was held in the state capital on occasion of World Heart Day today.

Thousands of people of different age groups participated in the event to create awareness among denizens for heart health.

The participants raced at Marathon, jointly organised by Sambad Group and Kalinga Hospital, from main gate of the hospital to Sainik School and returned to the venue to mark World Heart Day.

Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Sambad Editor and Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Sambad Group Managing Director Monica Nayyar Patnaik, Sambad Group CEO Kamalakant Das and Sambad Group Deputy General Manager (HRD) Baijayanti Kar were among key dignitaries present at the event.

“Heart is a vital organ in our body. It serves as a pump to circulate the blood. The blood should flow in arteries. If the blood comes out of body, should be used for others. I wish everyone to run on the special occasion for a healthy heart,” said Sambad Editor.

Worth mentioning, World Heart Day, an initiative by the World Heart Federation, is observed on September 29 every year to spread awareness about cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart disease and stroke. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 17.9 million people die of CVDs every year, accounting for over 31 per cent of global deaths, out of which one-third of the deaths are premature (below 70 years).