Josh run at 3 EME Centre to mark Army Day

Bhopal: In the run-up to the Army Day celebrations in Bangalore on January 15, the soldiers and families of Military Station, Bhopal, took part in a mini-marathon organised by 3 EME Centre on Saturday. The run was flagged off by Major General Sumer Ivan D’Cunha, GOC Paschim MP Sub Area, from Jit Stadium of 3 EME Centre. The Army Day run was dedicated to the valiant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, and was part of the planned extensive outreach of the Indian Army to strengthen the bond with citizens.. There were over 800 participants, from schoolkids to veterans, aged 70-plus.3 EME Centre, located in Bairagarh, epitomizes the Army’s Motto of “Service Before Self”. Since its inception in 1962, it has been closely linked to Bhopal’s fabric, and both have grown manifold, complementing each other. The Centre has trained over 75,000 recruits and turned them into soldier-craftsmen who have proved their mettle in all fields, be it military operations, aid to civil authorities, disaster relief or sports.In the week leading to the Army Day, 3 EME centre also organised activities, in coordination with local bodies and civil society, representing the Army’s commitment to the nation. The Army Day Run culminates this celebration and is a salute to our soldiers.Class 7 student Orion Sharma said, “It was my third marathon after Bhopal Run and Vijay Diwas where I secured positions. Running the marathon with Armymen motivated me a lot. I practice every morning with them and want to win the Olympic gold medal in triathlon”. His father is a Colonel here. IAF veteran Surender Singh, 73, and his wife, Luxmi Singh, 66,a former hockey player, completed the 5km run without any break. Singh said his wife wakes him up every day to work out and stay fit. What’s their fitness mantra? “Be cheerful, no matter what.”