RunRaiseRespondNorthEast held in Imphal

Over 450 runners, walkers, cyclist and bikers participate in the final leg of  RunRaiseRespond NorthEast Half Marathon promoting entrepreneurs in the North East supported by the Government of Manipur through the Department of Commerce & Industry.

Hon’ble CM flags off the run in the presence of Minister Shri K Govidas renowned boxer Mary Kom and International Entrepreneur Nigel Eastwood

September 10, 2016, Imphal: Over 450 participants took part in a charity run as a part of RunRaiseRespond NorthEast to promote entrepreneurship in the region. Nigel Eastwood, a highly acclaimed technology investor and International entrepreneur with strong ties to the North East supported by the Government of Manipur through the Department of Trade & Commerce, Manipur with outreach partner Dynamic Manipur organized the charity run in Imphal today to create awareness of Startup Entrepreneurship in NE States. MNet, one of the North East’s leading telecom companies is the key sponsor of the run. The run was flagged off by Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, Honourable Chief Minister, Govt. of Manipur and Shri Konthoujam Govindas, Hon’ble Minister, Commerce & Industries, Govt. of Manipur in the presence of renowned boxer and MP, Mary Kom. The participants included veteran women walkers, cylicts and bikers with over 100 volunteers from local Azad English School, Bethany English School, Lee Faith School, Salai Cyclist, Wilderness Adventure, Manipur Photography Club and JCRE

Imphal was the final leg of the charity half marathon series which started in Guwahati (3^rd September) followed by Shillong (6^thSeptember) and in Kohima (8^th September). All funds raised will be donated to The North East Development Foundation (NEDF), a leading not-for-profit organisation in North-East India. The run saw participation from several government representatives with IAS officer Shri Shyam Lal Poonia, Secretary MPSC and Director, Tourism competing the 21km stretch. A  13 year old boy and a girl from also successfully completed the half-marathon.

Sharing his excitement post the successful completion RunRaiseRespond NorthEast, Nigel Eastwood commented, “ It has been an incredible experience running across various states of the North East to promote entrepreneurship in the region over the last one week. The impressive turnout for RunRaiseRespond North East in Manipur has revalidated my faith in the potential of the region. It has been an inspiring experience running with government officials like Shri Shyamlal Poonia, athletes, young students, and entrepreneurs of Manipur to promote the cause of entrepreneurship in the region. There is an urgent need to create a more favorable climate for entrepreneurship, a stronger ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’ is the key to the NE’s competitiveness and development. I would like to do more such activities in the future.”

The major proceeds from all the runs will be presented to the winning start-ups at the North East Start-up Festival being held by NEDF in November this year. The winning businesses at the Start-up Festival will receive a share of the funds raised and will be given free mentoring for 1 year by Nigel and the wider team.

Nigel Eastwood had also undertaken a charity run on 17^th October, 2015 from Katra to the famous religious shrine of Vaishno Devi popular amongst devotees across religions and countries. The proceeds of the charity run were donated to The Society for Promotion of Tribal Welfare and Development (SPTWD), a registered NGO which provides free education for underprivileged people in India.

The event is being organized by Lun Tonsing and Vijaya Eastwood. Lun & Vijaya are women entrepreneurs originally from Manipur with an international background and keen interest in contributing to the progress of the region.