Run For Fun
Hundreds of young and old people turn up for the marathon organized by Nepal Investment Bank Limited
By A CORRESPONDENT
Over 2500 enthusiastic runners turned up for the first ever marathon organized by the Nepal Investment Bank Limited on Saturday (March 17) in Kathmandu .
As a part of its corporate social responsibility, the bank had announced holding annual marathon runs with the title of “Run for Fun.”
In arguably the biggest marathon show in the city, the NIBL program had drawn huge interests.
The marathons were held on various categories and the winners bagged cash prizes ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.
Under the 21 km category, Arjun Dhakal bagged the first prize with the cash purse of Rs 50,000 in professional group; Laxman Malla Thakuri bagged first prize with the cash purse of Rs 30,000 in amateur group; and Derek Coogan bagged the first prize with cash purse of Rs 15,000 in foreigners’ group.
Likewise, under the 10 km category, Mahendra Man Maharjan bagged cash prize of Rs 15,000 in veterans group; Shiva Lama bagged Rs 15,000 in 50-60 years group; Ravi Raj Thapa bagged Rs 15,000 in 60 years and above group; and Kanchhi Maya Koju bagged Rs 25,000 in Ladies group.
Under the 5 km category, Deepak Desal won Rs 10,000 in School Boys group; and Brinda Shrestha won Rs 10,000 in School Girls group; while Kalpana Subedi won Rs 10,000 in Financial Institution group.
Under the 1 km category for the differently-abled persons, Tulsi Baskota won and bagged cash prize of Rs 15,000.
On the Saturday morning, the crowd of hundreds of marathon runners occupied the whole Durbarmarg area. Amid musical plays, they ran across the city and returned to the NIBL office. The total cash prize amounted to Rs 500,000.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Director of NIBL Prithvi Bahadur Pande said that the money generated from the event crossed their expectation of Rs 2.5 million.
The money thus generated will be matched with equal amount by the bank and handed over to the World Monument Fund for the conservation of Patan Durbar Square area. “We are committed to continue our support to various social and sporting activities as the bank grows,” Pande said.
NIBL, through its first Annual Marathon, has taken this opportunity to support Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) by way of raising funds for the restoration and conservation of Patan Durbar. This project was selected amongst various others in the World Monuments Nepal Watch List and UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Nepal Investment Bank Limited has assisted and contributed to various conservation/heritage related projects as well as numerous sporting activities in Nepal . In the area of conservation, NIBL started by contribution towards the restoration of the Kal Bhairab Temple and the Pancha Kumari Maitidevi Temple .
In sports, NIBL has been a generous contributor in various sporting activities of the likes of tennis, golf, athletics, cricket, boxing, etc. NIBL also supported the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon and the 35th National Athletics Championships. NIBL is the exclusive sponsor of the Friends Club Kupondole.
“Nepal Investment Bank Limited’s total support and contribution to heritage and sports has been to the tune of Rs 31 lakhs 81 thousand since the Nepali Management took over the Bank in 2002,” says the bank in a statement.
Besides being one of the leading commercial banks in the country, the NIBL has also set standards in the Corporate Social Responsibility by lending it hands in various sporting and social activities.
