NGOs, Corporates, and citizens join forces with 13,000 plus runners

With less than a week for the flag-off of the landmark 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, from the slated to be held on coming Sunday, 19th January,  George Aikara the CEO of the United Way Mumbai, the event’s Philanthropy Partner, highlighted the key role of 269 NGOs, corporates, and citizens in raising Rs. 43 crores to date  during a media press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.

“The Tata Mumbai Marathon known for its transformative approach since its inception and not only redefined the health, fitness bench mark, and also established itself as the country’s single largest sporting platform for philanthropy, raising over RS. 429 crores from 740 NGOs with the support of 600 corporates over the years based on the theme ‘Change Began Here’.  This year itself has seen whole hearted support from 269 NGOs, corporates, and citizens have collectively raised RS. 43 crores to date , ” said George Aikara, amidst appreciative applause from the selected gathering along with the members of the press, representatives  of top fundraisers,  and the organisers Procam International

She further added, “This remarkable convergence of runners, donors, NGOs, and corporates continues to drive social change and empower communities nationwide.

George Aikara, CEO, United Way Mumbai, said: As the Philanthropy Partner since 2009, we’ve seen the marathon evolve into a powerful force for social change. This year’s record-breaking turnout of 13,000 individuals alone running through charity, showcases TMM’s unique ability to inspire and engage. Further more than 222 fundraisers have raised over a lakh of rupees each on the platform, and the average fundraiser has brought in Rs. 2 lakh for causes spanning health, education, gender equality, and more. These numbers are a testament to the growing enthusiasm among participants. A special mention to the 6 ‘Change Legends’ – Ms Villy Doctor, Dr. Bijal Mehta, Meera Mehta, Sunit Kothari, Shyam Jasani and Utppal Mehta –  who have each raised over Rs.1 crore, making a lasting impact. What’s exciting this year is that we also saw a significant increase in corporate participation, with businesses rallying their teams to fundraise and run together, reflecting the growing trend of companies leveraging the TMM platform to champion social responsibility.”

An inspiring panel of top fundraisers, NGO leaders, and young philanthropists shared their stories of fundraising and impact. Dr. Bijal Mehta, an ophthalmologist and trustee of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), emerged as one of the highest fundraisers, collecting an astounding Rs. 1.5 crores for the same NGO. Her efforts will support SRLC’s work in making education accessible in rural India, and also supporting animal care and health. “The TMM provides us with an incredible platform to reach supporters and turn our vision into reality. Every two years, we’ve been able to create robust infrastructure and oversee more than 75 projects, leveraging this platform to bring about meaningful change,” she said.

Joining her was Shivaprasad Khened, Trustee of ADHAR (An Association of Parents of Mentally Challenged Adults) Home, and also a parent of an adult with intellectual disabilities. Sharing his personal journey of raising funds for the organisation he added, “Intellectual disabilities, particularly in adults is a cause that’s often misunderstood, and platforms like the TMM help bridge that gap in spreading visibility and awareness of intellectual disability, an area that is still underrepresented in discussions around mental health.”

Former Managing Director of Franklin Templeton Investments Vivek Kudva has raised funds on the platform from 2011 to 2016 and now again in 2025. Raising funds for dementia care after witnessing his sister’s struggles, Mr Kudva remarked, “I want to improve the ecosystem of caregiving, including job-creation for caregivers, to help those who don’t have access to the care they need. Currently, caregiving is seen as the burden of the family. And so, I’ve pledged to match every rupee raised through my campaign with my personal wealth to amplify the impact.”

Corporate participation has seen an unprecedented rise this year, with 165 companies rallying their employees to run and raise funds. HDFC Bank, fielding the largest-ever team of 1,500 runners, was among the corporates celebrated at the press meet.  “Corporate philanthropy is not just about donations; it’s about engaging our teams in meaningful action.  The response from our employees speaks volumes 1,500 registrations closed within 15 to 20 minutes! It reflects the anticipation and commitment they have toward making a difference,” said Nusrat Pathan, Head - Corporate Social Responsibility, HDFC Bank.

Over 1,300 fundraising pages have been created this year, with participants turning philanthropy into a gamified challenge. While raising Rs.10,000 is sufficient to earn a charity bib, many have far exceeded this amount, with the average fundraiser collecting Rs. 2 lakh. Impressively, 222 individuals have raised over Rs.1 lakh each.

TMM Green Bib – An Agro Forest Initiative is a testament to the power of collective action, with thousands of runners coming together to create a greener, healthier future. Last year, thanks to their contributions, Rs. 31,85,160 was raised, allowing the plantation and nurturing of 5,016 trees in Solapur. One of the farmers who benefited was Yuvraj Ravikant Patil from Solapur’s Tirth block. He reflected on the impact and said, "These trees have given me hope. They will bring stability to our income and allow us to keep farming on our ancestral land despite the challenges."

Photo Above : Sanna Shaikh, Chief Operation Officer - United Way Mumbai; George Aikara, Chief Executive Officer - United Way Mumbai; Yuvraj Ravikant Patil, Agro-Horticultural farmer and landowner, Mihaan Gandhi Dhall, Fundraiser for Ummeed Child Development Center, Venkatraman S, A Cancer Survivor, has been fundraising for cancer care and research through the TMM since 2018, Vivek Kudva, Managing Director, India and CEEMEA, Franklin Templeton Investments, Vivek Singh, Jt. MD, Procam International, Dr Bijal Mehta, Trustee, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), Director, Right Sight Eye Care LLP, Shaurya Banga, Student at the American School of Bombay, Supporting OSCAR Foundation; Shivaprasad Khened, Trustee at ADHAR and Gandhi Smarak Nidhi; Senior Advisor at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai; Nusrat Pathan, Head - Corporate Social Responsibility, HDFC Bank; Arati Kakatkar - Vice President, Procam International (centre)