RONO HILLS, Sep 10: Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here organised a 'Red Run' 5-km mini marathon on Thursday, under the banner of RGU's Red Ribbon Club and the NSS Cell, in association with the Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS).

The event was organised with the objective of creating awareness among young people about HIV/AIDS prevention and drug abuse, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The mini marathon witnessed enthusiastic participation of over 100 runners, comprising RGU students and NSS volunteers. The event reflected the commitment of the university towards promoting health, fitness, social responsibility and awareness among the youths.

The marathon was flagged off by RGU Vice-Chancellor (i/c) Prof SK Nayak, who emphasised the importance of protecting oneself from HIV/AIDS and staying away from drug abuse. He also encouraged the youths to adopt healthy habits and prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing for a better future.

The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where the winners in the boys' and girls'categories were felicitated with medals and certificates of merit, while participation certificates were provided to the other participants.

The institutional-level winners will have the opportunity to participate in state-, regional- and national-level competitions, as applicable.

The programme was attended by senior faculty members and officials, including Physical Education and Sports Science Dean Prof Sambhu Prasad, Deputy Registrar (Bill/DDO) Gomar Basar, Physical Education Department Assistant Professor Dr Vivek Kumar Singh, and others.

The active participation of NSS volunteers contributed significantly to the successful conduct of the programme.

Winners

Boys: Lanzi Elo (sociology department) - 1st prize; Arjun Chetry (history department) - 2nd prize;

Kaling Apung (Hindi department) - 3rd prize.

Girls: Joti Mane (physical education department) - 1st prize; Nasili (political science department) - 2nd prize; Meena Ragyor (agricultural entomology department) 3rd prize. (Source: AT)