Tealathon grows into women health movement

Going the distance in conquering cervical cancer, the Phulkari Women of Amritsar hosted the 8th edition of its flagship marathon, Tealathon – Run for Cervical Cancer Awareness, at Dussehra Ground, Ranjit Avenue.

This year’s edition marked the 150th cervical cancer awareness initiative by the organisation, drawing an impressive turnout of over 2,000 participants, including children as young as three and elders up to 80 years old.

Tealathon is closely aligned with the Teal Ribbon initiative—a national campaign focused on raising awareness about cervical cancer, promoting prevention through HPV vaccination and regular screenings. Phulkari, an all-women-run social organisation, has been tirelessly working to encourage women to prioritise their cervical health and avail necessary screening.

“Tealathon was designed as an outreach activity under our Conquer Cancer campaign. Over the years, it has grown in impact, enabling us to reach more than six lakh people through our educational awareness programs,” shared Praneet Bubber, Founder, Phulkari WOA. “Through sustained campaigns, 1,418 women from rural and urban centres have been screened for cervical cancer across 16 camps and 533 girls have been vaccinated. As one of the only preventable forms of cancer, we are committed to ensuring that the maximum number of women benefit from early intervention.”

The primary objective of the event was to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and encourage them to prioritise their health. This year, Congress MP from Amritsar Gurjeet Aujla also participated, alongside several professional marathoners from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

Adding a heartwarming touch, 34 children with special needs from Ibadat School (for the differently abled) and Karampura School of Eminence also joined the run. Both institutions are active participants in the ongoing Phulkari Learning Program.

“Two key words—prevention and early detection—are at the heart of our mission,” said Minakshi Khanna, President, Phulkari. “Cervical cancer is a serious health issue that affects women across all age groups.