Marathon man Pat Farmer’s `Spirit of India’ run leaves Maharashtra for Gujarat

Pat Farmer's `Spirit of India' from the southern tip of Kanyakumari to Kashmir at the northern end, covering a distance of 4,600 km in a 60-day marathon, entered Mumbai on 16 February 2016 and is leaving for Gujarat today.

Maharashtra Tourism has been assisting and coordinating all his arrangements while he was in Maharashtra.

As Pat Farmer entered Maharashtra from Goa, India tourism Mumbai along with Maharashtra Tourism greeted Farmer at Banda – the boundary of Maharashtra with a traditional welcome. State government officials and tourism officials along with sports enthusiasts from Sindhudurg district were also be present.

Farmer has been in Maharashtra for eleven days and covered Velagar, Malvan, Mithgavane, Ratnagiri, Velneshwar, Dapoli, Lonere, Pen, Shirsad and Kasa before reaching Mumbai on 16 and 17 February 2016.

Farmer left Maharashtra for his onward journey into Gujarat today (18 February 2016).

Gujarat Tourism will take over the arrangements for Farmer at Bhilad, the Gujarat entry point. Pat Farmer will be in Gujarat from 20 to 27 February 2016 for a period of seven days, covering Vapi, Navsari, Ankleshwar, Por, Chaklasi, Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar.

On 25 February 2016, while he is in Ahmedabad, Indiatourism, Mumbai along with Gujarat Tourism will felicitate Farmer at an ''Incredible India Evening''. Farmer will further proceed to Rishabhdev where Rajasthan Tourism will be taking over the arrangements of the 'Spirit of India Run' along with the Indiatourism, Jaipur.

The ministry of tourism and the ministry of external affairs along with state tourism departments of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Chandigarh are supporting the 'Spirit of India Run' by Farmer, an ultra marathon runner from Australia.

Farmer, who started his run from Kanyakumari on 26 January 2016, celebrating India's Republic Day and also the Australia Day, will be covering 4,600 km in 60 days, finishing in Kashmir (See: Marathon man Pat Farmer to run from Kanyakumari to Kashmir).

Farmer is a multiple world record holder for endurance running and has run from the North Pole to the South Pole, and across Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Middle East and North America. He has served 8 years as a Member of Australia's Parliament, with 3 years as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Science and Training.. Farmer has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes during his 20 year running career.

Farmer's 'Spirit of India Run' is aimed at cementing relations between India and Australia; encourage tourism and personal relationships with a view to create awareness of India as a 'Must Experience' destination for travellers from Australia; and support causes and charity which in the current endeavour is to raise funds for education of the girl child.

Farmer runs on an average around 80 km, and prefers to begin his run by 5.30 am everyday from the point where he ended his run on the previous day.

'Spirit of India Run' is also being supported by Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) who is providing a set of two experienced and knowledgeable local drivers in each state to ensure smooth flow of movement of the vehicles accompanying Farmer.

Pat Farmer is being accompanied by a television crew which would cover the entire run and prepare a documentary that would be screened multiple times on Australia's Channel 9 TV Network.

All the state departments of police, traffic, education, sports, health and media have been requested to extend their support in their respective states for the smooth conduct of `Spirit of India Run'.