First Annual Kapisa Run Race 2008 All regions stand united to Say No to Drugs.
As seen witnessed in the previous years, this year again Afghanistan showed tremendous evolution in the society when people joined hands to cheer the participants of regional Run Races being held in all the major regions which include Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Takhar/Kunduz, Mazar Shariff , Herat , Khost, Bamyan and Kapisa.
This catalyst of change was brought forward by one person vision Mr.Ehsan Bayat, Chairman of Bayat Foundation. When many were skeptical about it he was strong in his belief and the dream he had.
The dream was to organize races in all major regions where people would run to Say No to Drugs, Yes to Peace and Unity & Lets Create Green Afghanistan. To show the entire world that even in a tough situation the Afghan people can get together and show their spirit of resilience and will power. The true Afghan spirit! The regional Run Races were planned to be organized over a period of three months and to conclude the biggest of all events The Annual Run Race 2008 which would be organized in Kabul; the capital of Afghanistan.
The planning and execution for the idea involved more than 600 people from Bayat Foundation and Afghan Wireless collectively in each event and it considered all aspects including security, management, food/refreshments and pre-event activities for each regional race. The pre-event activities included campaigning on Ariana Television Network (ATN & FM 93.5), BTL which includes Posters and Outdoors (Billboards) to excite people to come participate in this mega event 400 participants were selected for the race.
This year the Annual Run Race is held in Kapisa on 24 October, 2008 which received tremendous response from the people. The race started from Red Crescent and ended at Province Two way. This race will be followed by Kabul respectively. The 8 Km race in this province had participants from all age groups from approx.16 to 40 years old. An overwhelming crowd of nearly 6000 t0 7000 persons were physically present to watch the participants run.
Event was organized by Bayat Foundation, Afghan Wireless, media partners were Ariana Television Network, FM 93.5. Total prize money of 30,000/-Af was distributed in cash between the winners and participants. Apart from this there were 20 more prizes given to the top provincial authorities.
This corporate participation shows the popularity of the event and the commitment of the corporate sector in promoting socially relevant messages like ours, Say No to Drugs. It was seen that the participants came not only from the main city of Kapisa but from nearby villages & districts too. All of them ran while wearing T-Shirts, Caps and small Towels gifted by Bayat Foundation and Afghan Wireless.
In the post event activities each run race story was aired by Ariana TV and Radio the very next day on the countries largest network. In addition, all other media also published about this mega event as news report. The conclusive Run Race will be held in Kabul which would bring the whole country together and with one voice and Say No to Drugs.
