· Talented actor and fitness icon Kangana Ranaut flagged off the 5th edition of Max Bupa Walk for Health event in the city
· Mumbai’s iconic Dabawallas, families, walking communities and health enthusiasts walked together for a healthier tomorrow
Mumbai, February 12, 2017: Max Bupa Health Insurance today hosted the fifth edition of its flagship event, Max Bupa Walk for Health, in Mumbai. The initiative brings alive Max Bupa’s philosophy of being the health partners to its customers while reinforcing its commitment to help India put its ‘Health First’. Health icon and talented star of the upcoming movie Rangoon Kangana Ranaut flagged off the one its kind walking event in the country, amidst much fanfare.
The walk was held at the popular city hot spot SNDT Women's University in Juhu and saw thousands of spirited Mumbaikars begin their Sunday morning on a healthy note and participate in the 5 kilometer walk for adults and 2 kilometer walk for children and senior citizens. People from all walks of life, including health enthusiasts, Mumbai’s famous walking communities like iconic Dabbawalas, Mumbai Moms, Mumbai Instagrammers, Mumbai Photowalk, Streets of Mumbai, joined the initiative.
According to the World Health Organization, owing to our sedentary lifestyles, the percentage of Indians afflicted with lifestyle and chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses is growing at dangerous levels every year. It has been scientifically proven that walking is the safest form of exercise that can help prevent and cure a host of illnesses. Max Bupa Walk for Health is a first of its kind health initiative, which endeavours to inspire millions of individuals and families to get walking and enhance their overall health and well-being. Held for the first time in 2012, Max Bupa Walk for Health has so far inspired over 1, 00, 000 Indians to walk more. After Mumbai, the walk will be held in Delhi on February 19 and conclude in Bangalore on February 26.
Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, Max Bupa said, “Like every year, we are back in the city to flag off the fifth edition of our mega health initiative Max Bupa Walk for Health. Our Max Bupa Walk for Health Survey 2017 shows that 86% people in Mumbai believe walking cures lifestyle related diseases; however, 40% do not walk regularly. The initiative mirrors our commitment to shake people from this inertia and encourage them to walk towards a healthier, more successful life. “
He further added, “We are thrilled to see the contagious enthusiasm and commitment of thousands of Mumbaikars who have gathered here to walk towards a healthier tomorrow”
Extending support to the initiative, Kangana Ranaut said, “Max Bupa Walk for Health is a very important health initiative since it prompts people across age groups, be it the old or young, to start walking and make a real difference to overall health and wellbeing. It’s a myth that staying fit is expensive and complicated. It’s actually not, what you just need to do is take out 30 minutes from your daily life and dedicate it to walking. I ensure that my workout involves walking, it enhances one’s mental, emotional and physical health. I want to specially tell all women out there that while you juggle different roles, don’t neglect your health. A walk a day, keeps all diseases like cancer, depression and obesity at bay! So, put your health first with Max Bupa Walk for Health and discover a healthier, happier you.”
The action packed day began with an energetic warm-up zumba session, followed by a five kilometer walk for adults and a two kilometer walk for children and senior citizens apart from a host of other activities like en route health squads to cheer the walkers and a live musical performance by the popular band AFM. Thousands of school children got a chance to meet their favourite Nicktoons-Motu and Patlu, while many senior citizens also availed complimentary health checks. A host of popular brands like Lotto, Nickelodeon, GoQii, Barista, Fitness First, Bookmyshow, among others associated with Max Bupa for the initiative.
What makes the fifth edition of the Walk for Health initiative even more noteworthy is the endorsement from the prestigious Athletic Federation of India, the apex body of athletics in India. As a part of the association, Max Bupa is hosting the ‘National Race Walking Championships’. This will be the first time that any corporate will host a ‘race walking’ event in the country. The intent is to help walking gain recognition as a sport and bring our national race walking athletes, who represent us at the Olympics, to the limelight. The Max Bupa National Race Walking Championships will be held in Delhi on 18th and 19th February, and will witness participation from over 200 national and international race walkers, who will ‘race walk’ in 50 km, 20 km and 10 km categories and inspire fellow citizens to walk and make a real difference to their health.
About Max India Limited
Max India, the holding company for Max Healthcare, Max Bupa Health Insurance and Antara Senior Living, is focused on health and allied businesses. Max Healthcare and Max Bupa Health Insurance are joint ventures with global leaders Life Healthcare (South Africa) and Bupa Finance Plc. (UK), respectively. These businesses have well-entrenched positions in their respective categories, and are recog nized for their outstanding service standards. The Company owns and actively manages a 45.95% per cent stake in Max Healthcare, a 51% stake in Max Bupa Health Insurance and a 100% stake in Antara Senior Living.
About Bupa
Bupa’s purpose is longer, healthier, happier lives. As a leading global health and care company, we offer health insurance, medical subscription and other health and care funding products; we run care homes, retirement and care villages, primary care, diagnostic and wellness centres, hospitals and dental clinics. We also provide workplace health services, home healthcare, health assessments and long-term condition management services. We have 29m customers in 190 countries. With no shareholders, we reinvest our profits to provide more and better healthcare and fulfil our purpose. We employ almost 80,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Poland, New Zealand and Chile, as well as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the USA.