This year’s event on Nov 21 not only saw the number of female participants increase from eight to 10; they were also joined by eight men dressed in veshtis, the cloth wrap for the lower body.
Proceeds from sponsorship of the runners are for Persekutuan Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Ceylonese Selangor dan Wilayah Perseketuan (Perma), which provides support for the elderly, underprivileged and physically challenged.
The money raised will go towards providing tablets for B40 students to help end digital poverty and ensure they are able to continue their education.
“Our goal is to reach RM45,000, which will allow us to buy 100 tablets,” says Perma committee member Sumithra Vidhyananthan, who took part in the run.
The group also aims to break stereotypes surrounding age and misconceptions around traditional attire. The saree, they say, is a reflection of heritage and womanhood, a functional and versatile garment that has been passed down from their mothers and ancestors.
Running in a saree has reminded them that they can take on modern-day roles while still being able to uphold their culture and traditions.
Dr Anushya Vijayananthan and her sister Sasha, who participated in the run last year, were joined by their husbands this time around.
Both sisters ran the 5km in the same sarees they wore last year belonging to their late mother, a former member of Perma who used to contribute generously to charity.
Sasha’s husband, Edwin Francis, also ran to honour his late mother, who lived her life in service of others.
The first to finish was Siva Ramanathan, who tied his veshti in the Kshatriya or warrior style that provided him with a lot of leg movement.
Nothing could dampen the spirits of the participants – not even the rain, which organiser Rupa Sivanoli said posed the biggest challenge as it had been raining cats and dogs every evening.
True enough, it poured during the event, drenching sarees and veshtis – and yet, the group in their mid 40s to late 50s completed the run seemingly effortlessly.
They were joined by their family members who rode alongside them in cars, giving them support and cheering them on all the way to the finish line.
“I was worried about wardrobe malfunctions,” Rupa tells FMT with a laugh. Thankfully, everyone was able to finish with their outfits intact.
Asked if they would run again next year, the men and women – demonstrating brilliant camaraderie – said they were excited to do so.
They have so far been able to raise RM40,372.89, and are hoping the public will help them reach their goal of giving to Perma and helping the B40 kids.
If you wish to contribute, donations can be made directly to PERMA, HSBC account 302034921001.
Learn more about Perma and its projects by visiting its Facebook profile.