5-Km run to create awareness on drug abuse

Manipal: Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal in association with Manipal Runners’ Club, Udupi District Police and Udupi Press Club is organizing a five-kilometre run on September 23 to create awareness about the menace of drug abuse. 

Pro-Chancellor, MAHE, Dr H.S. Ballal and Superintendent of Police Udupi, Laxman Nimbargi briefed the media about the event.

Giving details of the run, Dr Ballal said that it would be flagged off from outside the University building at 7.15 am and will finish at KMC Green. He said, “The run is important as a large number of our population is under 25 and therefore students. It is, therefore, necessary to create awareness on the dangers of drugs,” he added. 

‘Police plays an important role in containing drug abuse’

SP Nimbargi said that Udupi police have been conducting various programmes to create awareness on the perils of drug abuse over the last two months. “The run on Sunday will be the culmination of that campaign,” he said. 

“In addition, it will also be an opportunity to create awareness on physical fitness, which too will keep one away from drugs. The idea is to try and render Manipal drug free,” he stated. 

Coordinator of the event, Dr Vinod Nayak, who is also the secretary MAHE sports council said that majority of the runners would be students, from the University and other colleges of the district. The runners’ can warm-up with a work-out of Zumba. 

MAHE vice-chancellor, Dr H. Vinod Bhat and pro-vice-chancellor, Health Sciences, Dr Poornima Baliga were among others present at the press briefing.