In an effort to spread awareness about HIV and AIDS, the Andaman and Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) is organizing a 5 km awareness marathon titled “RED RUN” on August 26, 2025. The event, which is open to individuals aged 15 and above, will feature three gender categories, Male, Female, and Transgender, with attractive cash prizes for the top three winners in each category.
The marathon will begin and end at the Andaman Club. The route proceeds through New Lighthouse Restaurant, continues along Rajiv Gandhi Road, turns at Dignabad Jetty, and loops back to the starting point. All participants are required to report at Netaji Stadium by 6 AM on the event day.
RED RUN is a public initiative designed to educate citizens about the ongoing risks of HIV and counter persistent misinformation and stigma surrounding the disease. By bringing together people from diverse backgrounds in a single event, the organisers aim to spark meaningful conversations around HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
Cash prizes of ₹10,000 for first place, ₹8,000 for second, and ₹5,000 for third will be awarded in each category, providing both a competitive edge and an incentive for wider public participation. While the event promotes fitness and community engagement, its central focus remains on raising HIV awareness in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where public health outreach on sexually transmitted infections remains critical.
Online registration for the RED RUN opened on August 1 and will continue until August 20, 2025. Participants can register through the official link (https://shorturl.at/l91cr) or by scanning the QR code shared on official posters and digital announcements. For those unable to complete the registration online, on-the-spot registration will be facilitated at the venue on the day of the marathon.
The RED RUN is part of ANACS’s broader HIV/AIDS awareness strategy, which includes community testing campaigns, youth outreach, school-based education programmes, and targeted information drives. With changing public perceptions and increased availability of antiretroviral therapy, there is growing recognition that awareness and early testing remain key to controlling the spread of HIV.
ANACS officials have underscored the need for public engagement events like this to combat stigma and encourage people to know their status. Regular testing, safer sex practices, and access to healthcare are among the core messages being promoted in the lead-up to the run.
For logistical and programme-related queries, participants may contact AD IEC Kaushik Kumar Halder at 9474281620 or AD Documentation Santosh Baghel at 9474220069.
The event also marks an attempt to reframe the narrative around HIV through active participation and shared community goals. It focuses on enabling open discussions, especially among the youth, who remain both vulnerable to misinformation and essential to driving change in health behaviour.
By integrating sport with social awareness, the RED RUN demonstrates how public health campaigns can use non-traditional formats to reach wider audiences. The choice of an inclusive marathon with gender-sensitive categorization also reflects a commitment to representation and equality.
This run is expected to draw considerable participation from across Sri Vijaya Puram and adjoining areas, and it is being promoted as a safe, inclusive, and empowering event. ANACS is hopeful that the RED RUN will not only draw attention to the need for continued HIV education but also create lasting community partnerships for health promotion in the Islands.
