Xavathon is a minimarathon (10K,5K, and 3K) event organized by St. Francis Xavier Autonomous College, Kolkata for the first time. Around 800 men and 500 women across different ages registered. The participants included some Jesuit fathers and brothers of the Kolkata province. The aim of this maiden event is to take individual responsibility to safeguard our mother earth by taking care of plants. On this occasion, fifty thousand saplings were distributed across West Bengal. All participants were given two seeds each along with the finisher medals. Fr. Domnic Savio, SJ encouraged the participants to lead a healthy lifestyle that the earth will remain greener to sustain us. Mr. Manoj Kumar Verma, the Kolkata commissioner of police appreciated the initiative for the green and healthy society in his speech.
The highlights of the day were Mr. Pawan Puri, the eighty-seven-year-old man who completed the 3K race, and Mr. Firoz Alam, the physically challenged man who finished the 5K. Both of them were honored with a special trophy for inspiring others to run for a good cause. I Participated in the event and finished the 10K race first at my age category (25-39) in forty minutes and thirty-six seconds. At the end of the event, the vote of thanks was given to the sports department of the college for organizing the event along with college administration.
-Arockia Kulandai J, ss.cc.
