FSOM: Running to Empower, the DLRC Way

Grade 12 students who hosted Run2Empower

FSOM or the First Sunday of the Month Run, is a community tradition where people come together not just to run, but to run for a noble cause. This time, the Grade 12 students hosted the event on August 3rd with the slogan Run2Empower.

DLRC has had a long partnership with Samajbandh, an NGO that focuses on women's empowerment, through the Social Impact Project (SIP). They help women from rural villages manage menstruation in a clean and effective way by providing cloth sanitary pads that are reusable. This is in alignment with sustainability, a DLRC way of life.

On the day of the event, everyone was pumped up for the run. Runners of all ages participated in 3K, 5K, 10K, and even 15K runs. The route stretched from the DLRC gate to Ram Nagar in Bavdhan, the farthest checkpoint. More than 300 people signed up, and many others supported the cause through donations, even if they couldn’t be there. 

The DLRC community turned up in huge numbers for FSOM

Cheers from friends, families, and volunteers filled the air. Water stations were set up every few kilometres, and there were marshals along the route to help the runners navigate the marathon. Some people sprinted, some jogged, while others walked, but everyone wore their FSOM headbands to represent something bigger.  

This event wouldn’t have happened without the hard work and dedication of students from Grades 9 to 12, especially Grade 12 and our SIP mentors. Apart from setting up water stations, arranging for cycling marshals and photography volunteers, they also made and painted cloth headbands for every runner, spread the word through social media, and collected donations.

Parents and facilitators supported the students in every way they could, and the runners themselves brought immense energy to the cause. Even the simple act of cheering participants on until the very end showed how much heart was behind this effort.  

In the end, more than Rs 5 lakh was raised for Samajbandh through DLRC. This money will directly help rural women access clean and sustainable menstrual pads. Every person who ran, donated, volunteered, or cheered played a role in this huge success.  

Even a small contribution can create a big impact, and Run2Empower proved that. We already look forward to an even bigger run next year, and we hope to see everyone back, running to empower once again! Thank you for your support in this year’s FSOM.

By Krish Shringi, Grade 9