THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Patrick Francis Daniel, popularly known as Pat Farmer, Australian marathon runner and former member of Australia’s parliament entered Goa to a rousing welcome at Polem on Monday morning.
Farmer is on a 4600-kilometre run to raise funds for the education of girl child in India. He met school students, signed autographs, and interacted with people around at Maxem-Loliem in Canacona on Monday morning.
Farmer was received by Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, director of tourism Saneev Gauns Dessai, and OSD to director of tourism Brijesh Manerkar. Large number of school students were also present to welcome him at the Polem Border.
In a brief function at a Char Rasta school, Farmer was accorded a warm welcome. The Aussie, who began his run from Kanyakumari on January 26 will cover 4600kms up to Jammu and Kashmir to complete it in a record 60 days period. He is covering 12 states and will pass through cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Agra, New Delhi, and Chandigarh during the run which he intends to finish on March 30.
The event is intended to promote India-Australia relations and expose Australians to the real side of India. Simultaneously, Pat’s entourage on his run consists of a film director and camera persons, recording a documentary which will showcase unknown parts of India. According to sources, Pat, who runs between 5 am and 5 pm, wants ordinary people to come and join him for at least 10 or 15 minutes.
Farmer’s India run is supported by the government of India and the Australian government, under the Incredible India banner as Spirit of India Run. In his two years of endurance running career, Pat is known to have raised millions of dollars for various causes including Cancer Council, Australian Red Cross, etc.
