Zydus Pinkathon Title Partner Zydus Lifesciences & Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai expands to 12 cities, advances vision to take India's biggest women's run to 52 cities

Mumbai : Zydus Lifesciences Limited (Zydus), a global innovation-led lifesciences company, and Pinkathon today announced the expansion of Zydus Pinkathon from six to 12 cities at a press conference hosted by The Grand Hyatt Mumbai Hotel & Residences. Zydus Pinkathon will take place in Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Chennai and Varanasi. The expansion marks an important milestone in Pinkathon’s larger vision of taking the women’s running movement to 52 cities across India, making fitness, community participation and conversations around women’s health accessible to more women. Recognised as India’s biggest women’s run, Pinkathon brings together women across age groups, backgrounds and abilities on a common platform. The expanded footprint also gives renewed momentum to Zydus’ efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and timely detection through its Easiest Exam campaign.

With Mutual Funds Sahi Hai joining as Presenting Partner, the initiative brings financial awareness alongside physical fitness, encouraging women to take charge of their health and financial future.

Building on the momentum of its previous season, which brought together more than 30,000 women across six cities, this year Zydus Pinkathon presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai aims to engage 50,000 women through its expanded 12-city calendar in 2026–27.  With running categories ranging from 3 km to 100 km, it offers a unique platform that welcomes women taking their first steps towards fitness as well as experienced runners pushing their endurance limits.

Speaking at the launch of Zydus Pinkathon, Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, said, “Through Zydus Pinkathon and Easiest Exam, our endeavour is to make the conversations about breast self-exam easier to understand and discuss. This would be an important step in driving early detection of breast cancer in India and seeking medical advice without delay. Expanding Zydus Pinkathon to 12 cities gives us an opportunity to take this message further and build on the participation of women and healthcare professionals like oncologists and gynaecologists in the upcoming season.”

Ms Meha Patel, Vice Chairperson, Zydus Foundation, said, “Women often make time for everyone around them while putting their own health last. Changing this calls for encouragement at home and support within the community. Zydus Pinkathon creates an occasion for women to come together for themselves, share experiences and speak openly about their well-being. We hope each participant carries that encouragement to a friend, a sister or a mother, helping more women give their health the attention it deserves.”

Mr. Venkat N. Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI, said, “Through our association with Pinkathon, we aim to encourage women to take an active role in managing their finances and securing their financial future. Just as regular physical activity contributes to long-term health, informed financial decisions and disciplined investing can help build financial resilience and enable women to pursue their long-term goals with confidence.

This initiative provides a valuable platform to connect women’s physical well-being with financial awareness. At AMFI, we believe that financial inclusion goes beyond access to financial products; it is about equipping women with the knowledge, confidence and opportunity to make informed financial decisions, participate meaningfully in the financial system and work towards greater financial security and independence.”

Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai brings together two important pillars of women’s empowerment: physical and financial wellbeing. With AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) as the presenting partner through its Mutual Funds Sahi Hai initiative, the association seeks to encourage women to take a more proactive approach to their overall wellbeing, including making informed financial choices for a secure future. The partnership reinforces the shared message that empowering women involves supporting their health, confidence and financial awareness.

Inclusivity lies at the heart of Zydus Pinkathon. The movement brings together women from diverse backgrounds and abilities, creating a space where every woman can participate in a way that is meaningful to her. The upcoming season will welcome visually impaired women, cancer survivors and cancer warriors, grandmothers and senior women, babywearing mothers, women running in sarees and other traditional attire, as well as first-time runners taking part in an organised running event for the first time. By bringing these diverse groups together, Zydus Pinkathon seeks to challenge perceptions of who can run and create an environment where every woman feels encouraged to take her first step towards fitness. 

Bringing this spirit of inclusivity and determination to life, the press conference also introduced the inspiring mascots for the Mumbai edition. Each represents a different running category and embodies Zydus Pinkathon’s belief that every woman, irrespective of age, background or ability, can challenge boundaries.

The mascots include Dr Noureen Hemani, a babywearing mother representing the 10 km category; Deveika Bhojwani, President of World Cancer Initiative and a cancer survivor, representing the 5 km category; Pushpa Nalin Mody, an 83-year-old woman representing the 3 km category; Surjit Kaur, a 76-year-old runner taking on the 50 km category; Suman Rathi, a working professional representing the 75 km category; and Chhonzin Angmo, a visually impaired runner representing the 100 km category.

Together, their journeys reflect the courage, resilience and determination that define Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai, inspiring more women to overcome barriers and prioritise their health and fitness.

Milind Soman, Founder, Pinkathon, said, “It is wonderful to have Zydus continue its association with Pinkathon for the second consecutive year. Their continued belief in our vision gives us the confidence to take this movement to more women across the country. I am equally delighted to welcome Mutual Funds Sahi Hai as our Presenting Partner. Physical fitness and financial wellbeing are both important aspects of a woman’s independence and empowerment, and together, we have an opportunity to encourage conversations around both. As we expand from 6 to 12 cities this year, our aim is to inspire 50,000 women to take that first step towards a healthier, more confident future. I look forward to seeing more women join this growing movement.”

In a significant milestone, Zydus Pinkathon achieved a world record last year for the maximum number of visually impaired girls participating in a running event. This achievement underscores Zydus Pinkathon’s commitment to making running more accessible and ensuring that women with different abilities have the opportunity to participate in and be celebrated by the running community.

Pinkathon also features Invincible Women, its women-exclusive ultra-distance running initiative, which offers women the opportunity to push their boundaries and challenge conventional notions of endurance. Positioned as the world’s only women-exclusive ultra-distance run, Invincible Women provides a platform for women to take on extraordinary distances, build resilience and inspire others through their achievements. Alongside its community running categories, Pinkathon offers distances ranging from 3 km to 100 km, making it a unique running event that brings together first-time runners and experienced endurance athletes on the same platform.

Ms. Ankita Konwar, Founder of Invincible Women, said, “Invincible Women was born from the belief that women are capable of far more than they often give themselves credit for. Running 50 km, 75 km or even 100 km is not just about physical endurance; it is about overcoming self-doubt, discovering inner strength and redefining what is possible. What makes this journey special is seeing ordinary women, many of whom never imagined running such distances, achieve something extraordinary. Having Zydus support conversations around women’s health and Mutual Funds Sahi Hai encourage financial awareness adds greater meaning to this movement. Both are important in helping women build the confidence to take charge of their lives. I hope more women will challenge themselves, surprise themselves and discover just how invincible they truly are.”

As part of its nationwide breast cancer awareness initiative, Zydus has partnered with Pinkathon to take the message of women’s health and early detection of breast cancer to a wider audience, encouraging women from diverse backgrounds to embrace fitness and take charge of their wellbeing. Through this association, the two organisations aim to use the power of community participation to make conversations around breast self exam more accessible, encourage timely medical consultation and build sustained awareness beyond the event itself.

The need for sustained awareness is a pressing need with approximately 2,40,000 new breast cancer cases detected in India in 2025. Against this backdrop, Zydus Pinkathon brings breast self exam into a familiar, supportive community setting, encouraging women to recognise unusual changes, seek medical advice promptly and discuss appropriate screening with healthcare professionals.

The Mumbai edition of Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai will feature multiple running categories, including 3 km, 5 km and 10 km, along with ultra-distances of 50 km, 75 km and 100 km, as well as a 100 km relay under the Invincible Women initiative. The new season will welcome first-time participants and experienced runners from diverse backgrounds. From women taking their first steps into running to those challenging themselves over ultra-distances, the event celebrates participation, perseverance and the belief that every woman deserves the opportunity to prioritise her health. By bringing women, doctors, families and communities together, Zydus Pinkathon aims to turn a shared day of running into a lasting commitment to women’s health.

As part of its ongoing efforts, Zydus continues to drive its The Easiest Exam campaign, built around the message “Do haath, teen minute aur ek easy exam,” to encourage women to prioritise breast self exam, recognise changes, and understand the importance of early detection. The campaign aims to address stigma and dispel myths surrounding breast cancer through awareness initiatives, expert conversations with leading oncologists, podcasts, interactions with breast cancer warriors, and on-ground engagements.

Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai is supported by a strong ecosystem of partners who share its commitment to women’s health, fitness and empowerment. The initiative is led by Zydus Lifesciences as the Title Partner and Mutual Funds Sahi Hai as the Presenting Partner, with support from Lotus Safe Sun (Sunscreen Partner), Milton (Drinkware Partner), Sirona (Hygiene Partner), Tata Copper (Hydration Partner), Anytime Fitness (Official Gym Partner), Purina Pro Plan (Pet Food Partner), H K Vitals (Supplement Partner), Enthusionz (Digital Partner), Maitrayana (Philanthropy Partner). The event is executed by Smiling Tiger Experiences LLP.

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. with an overarching purpose of empowering people with freedom to live healthier and more fulfilled lives, is an innovative, global lifesciences company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies. The group has a significant presence in cancer related therapies and offers a wide range of solutions with cytotoxic, supportive & targeted drugs. The group employs over 30,000 people worldwide, including 1,500 scientists engaged in R&D, and is driven by its mission to unlock new possibilities in lifesciences through quality healthcare solutions that impact lives. The group aspires to transform lives through path-breaking discoveries. For more details visit www.zyduslife.com

Pinkathon, founded in 2012 by Milind Soman, is India’s biggest women’s run and the world’s first women-only run that goes beyond sports to celebrate health, fitness, and empowerment with distances up to 100 km. Over the years, it has inspired more than half a million women across the country to embrace running and take charge of their physical and emotional well-being. With categories ranging from 3 km to 100 km, Pinkathon welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, including cancer survivors, visually impaired women, baby-wearing mothers, and women running in traditional attire—making it a true movement of inclusivity and community spirit. In 2025–2026, Pinkathon returns to six major cities across India, continuing its mission to create awareness and action around women’s health.

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is a non-profit industry body established on August 22, 1995, representing asset management companies (AMCs) of mutual funds registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). AMFI is committed to developing the Indian mutual fund industry along professional, ethical, and transparent lines while promoting best practices and protecting the interests of investors and unit holders. It works closely with SEBI, the Government of India, and other stakeholders on matters concerning the mutual fund industry. Through its nationwide investor awareness initiatives, including the ‘Mutual Funds Sahi Hai’ campaign launched in 2017 under SEBI’s guidance, AMFI aims to simplify mutual fund investing, dispel common misconceptions, and empower individuals to make informed investment decisions.