MUMBAI, NATIONAL, 21 OCTOBER, 2026 | GPN, SACHIN MURDESHWAR: Zydus Lifesciences Limited and Pinkathon announced the expansion of Zydus Pinkathon from six to 12 cities in 2026–27, covering Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Guwahati, Jaipur, Chennai and Varanasi. Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai, the initiative aims to engage 50,000 women, building on the previous season’s participation of over 30,000 women across six cities.

Recognised as India’s biggest women’s run, Pinkathon welcomes women across age groups, fitness levels and abilities, with running categories ranging from 3 km to 100 km. The expansion supports Pinkathon’s vision of reaching 52 cities across India while strengthening Zydus’ efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection through its “The Easiest Exam” campaign.

Speaking at the launch of Zydus Pinkathon, Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Zydus Lifesciences, said, “Through Zydus Pinkathon and Easiest Exam, our endeavour is to make the conversations about breast self-exam easier to understand and discuss. This would be an important step in driving early detection of breast cancer in India and seeking medical advice without delay. Expanding Zydus Pinkathon to 12 cities gives us an opportunity to take this message further and build on the participation of women and healthcare professionals like oncologists and gynaecologists in the upcoming season.”

Ms Meha Patel, Vice Chairperson, Zydus Foundation, said, “Women often make time for everyone around them while putting their own health last. Changing this calls for encouragement at home and support within the community. Zydus Pinkathon creates an occasion for women to come together for themselves, share experiences and speak openly about their well-being. We hope each participant carries that encouragement to a friend, a sister or a mother, helping more women give their health the attention it deserves.”

Zydus Pinkathon empowers women through physical and financial well-being, celebrating inclusivity across age groups and backgrounds. Mumbai’s mascots include Dr Noureen Hemani, cancer survivor Deveika Bhojwani, senior citizens Pushpa Nalin Mody and Surjit Kaur, working professional Suman Rathi, and visually impaired runner Chhonzin Angmo. Last year, the event set a world record for the maximum number of visually impaired girls participating in a running event.

Milind Soman, Founder, Pinkathon, said, “It is wonderful to have Zydus continue its association with Pinkathon for the second consecutive year. Their continued belief in our vision gives us the confidence to take this movement to more women across the country. I am equally delighted to welcome Mutual Funds Sahi Hai as our Presenting Partner. Physical fitness and financial wellbeing are both important aspects of a woman’s independence and empowerment, and together, we have an opportunity to encourage conversations around both. As we expand from 6 to 12 cities this year, our aim is to inspire 50,000 women to take that first step towards a healthier, more confident future. I look forward to seeing more women join this growing movement.”

With approximately 2.4 lakh new breast cancer cases in India in 2025, Zydus Pinkathon promotes early detection through its “The Easiest Exam” campaign, encouraging breast self-examination and timely medical advice. Supported by health and wellness partners and executed by Smiling Tiger Experiences LLP, the initiative uses expert interactions, podcasts and community engagement to raise awareness and promote women’s physical and financial well-being.

Ms. Ankita Konwar, Founder of Invincible Women, said, “Invincible Women was born from the belief that women are capable of far more than they often give themselves credit for. Running 50 km, 75 km or even 100 km is not just about physical endurance; it is about overcoming self-doubt, discovering inner strength and redefining what is possible. What makes this journey special is seeing ordinary women, many of whom never imagined running such distances, achieve something extraordinary. Having Zydus support conversations around women’s health and Mutual Funds Sahi Hai encourage financial awareness adds greater meaning to this movement. Both are important in helping women build the confidence to take charge of their lives. I hope more women will challenge themselves, surprise themselves and discover just how invincible they truly are.”

As part of its nationwide breast cancer awareness initiative, Zydus has partnered with Pinkathon to take the message of women’s health and early detection of breast cancer to a wider audience, encouraging women from diverse backgrounds to embrace fitness and take charge of their wellbeing. Through this association, the two organisations aim to use the power of community participation to make conversations around breast self exam more accessible, encourage timely medical consultation and build sustained awareness beyond the event itself.

The need for sustained awareness is a pressing need with approximately 2,40,000 new breast cancer cases detected in India in 2025. Against this backdrop, Zydus Pinkathon brings breast self exam into a familiar, supportive community setting, encouraging women to recognise unusual changes, seek medical advice promptly and discuss appropriate screening with healthcare professionals.

The Mumbai edition of Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai will feature multiple running categories, including 3 km, 5 km and 10 km, along with ultra-distances of 50 km, 75 km and 100 km, as well as a 100 km relay under the Invincible Women initiative. The new season will welcome first-time participants and experienced runners from diverse backgrounds. From women taking their first steps into running to those challenging themselves over ultra-distances, the event celebrates participation, perseverance and the belief that every woman deserves the opportunity to prioritise her health. By bringing women, doctors, families and communities together, Zydus Pinkathon aims to turn a shared day of running into a lasting commitment to women’s health.

As part of its ongoing efforts, Zydus continues to drive its The Easiest Exam campaign, built around the message “Do haath, teen minute aur ek easy exam,” to encourage women to prioritise breast self exam, recognise changes, and understand the importance of early detection. The campaign aims to address stigma and dispel myths surrounding breast cancer through awareness initiatives, expert conversations with leading oncologists, podcasts, interactions with breast cancer warriors, and on-ground engagements.

Zydus Pinkathon Presented by Mutual Funds Sahi Hai is supported by a strong ecosystem of partners who share its commitment to women’s health, fitness and empowerment. The initiative is led by Zydus Lifesciences as the Title Partner and Mutual Funds Sahi Hai as the Presenting Partner, with support from Lotus Safe Sun (Sunscreen Partner), Milton (Drinkware Partner), Sirona (Hygiene Partner), Tata Copper (Hydration Partner), Anytime Fitness (Official Gym Partner), Purina Pro Plan (Pet Food Partner), H K Vitals (Supplement Partner), Enthusionz (Digital Partner), Maitrayana (Philanthropy Partner). The event is executed by Smiling Tiger Experiences LLP.

About Zydus Lifesciences

Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. with an overarching purpose of empowering people with freedom to live healthier and more fulfilled lives, is an innovative, global lifesciences company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies. The group has a significant presence in cancer related therapies and offers a wide range of solutions with cytotoxic, supportive & targeted drugs. The group employs over 30,000 people worldwide, including 1,500 scientists engaged in R&D, and is driven by its mission to unlock new possibilities in lifesciences through quality healthcare solutions that impact lives. The group aspires to transform lives through path-breaking

discoveries. For more details visit www.zyduslife.com

About Pinkathon

Pinkathon, founded in 2012 by Milind Soman, is India’s biggest women’s run and the world’s first women-only run that goes beyond sports to celebrate health, fitness, and empowerment with distances up to 100 km. Over the years, it has inspired more than half a million women across the country to embrace running and take charge of their physical and emotional well-being. With categories ranging from 3 km to 100 km, Pinkathon welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, including cancer survivors, visually impaired women, baby-wearing mothers, and women running in traditional attire-making it a true movement of inclusivity and community spirit. In 2025-2026, Pinkathon returns to six major cities across India, continuing its mission to create awareness and action around women’s health.

About AMFI

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) is a non-profit industry body established on August 22, 1995, representing asset management companies (AMCs) of mutual funds registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). AMFI is committed to developing the Indian mutual fund industry along professional, ethical, and transparent lines while promoting best practices and protecting the interests of investors and unit holders. It works closely with SEBI, the Government of India, and other stakeholders on matters concerning the mutual fund industry. Through its nationwide investor awareness initiatives, including the ‘Mutual Funds Sahi Hai’ campaign launched in 2017 under SEBI’s guidance, AMFI aims to simplify mutual fund investing, dispel common misconceptions, and empower individuals to make informed investment decisions. For more information, visit www.amfiindia.com