DIMAPUR, June 12 (MExN): A Naga academic took part in the St. Albans Half Marathon, a charity event organised annually in the UK. Dr. Achingliu Kamei, who teaches at the Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, Delhi University, took part in the run for charity held this year on June 11 near London.
The St. Albans Half Marathon was the result of a businessman, Phil Gibson’s endeavour to raise money for a hospital scanner following the death of his mother from breast cancer. Founded in 1982, the event is regarded as one of the best half marathons in England.
According to a press release, Dr. Kamei is an avid runner and chose to take part in the 21km run “because it touched her, as her mother too battled cancer and passed away at the age of 56 in the year 2004.”
“Achingliu Kamei has been running in official-timed runs for over six years. She has been participating in half marathons in cities like Delhi, Ladakh, Goa and many other places. She is a Naga from Manipur, with two daughters. She discovered her love of running late in life.”
The release said that she discovered a love for running in 2012 when she was invited to run for a charity by a friend in the year 2012. Two years later, she completed her first half marathon, aged 47 together with her husband, at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.
Dr. Kamei, alongwith her husband is credited as having participated in 12 official chipped timed running events across India.
As a teacher, the release said that she takes a keen interest in assisting students from the north-east at her college and is also behind ‘Rainbow Fest’ – an annual cultural festival of the college to bring together the diverse student communities in the college.
She has also published a book titled ‘Dawn’ recently, the first book in a series of Naga Tales, it added.
Her passion for running has encourage others to lead an active life, the release said, while adding that she also leads a running group in the city. The release further said that her friends - Dharkat Rungshung and Dr. Solomi Vio also participated for the first time in the St. Albans 5km chipped timed run for the first time.
“Running has made me respect my body and its changing needs as I grow older. Slow or fast doesn’t matter. All I know is how important it is to cross the finishing line strong,” the release quoted Dr. Kamei as stating.
