Indo-Australian Runner Om Satija Embarks on 5,000km 'One India Run' for Leprosy-Affected Children
Over the past few years, running has evolved beyond a mere physical activity into an act of awareness—either for oneself or for others. While people once ran alone, today running communities and marathons have proliferated, enhancing not only physical health but also mental well-being. However, a 23-year-old Indo-Australian, Om Satija, has recently harnessed the sport for an exemplary cause. The Melbourne-based athlete is currently undertaking one of the most ambitious long-distance runs ever attempted across the Indian subcontinent.
Satija is on a unique 5,000km 'One India Run' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, all to support a cause close to his heart. He began his journey on Republic Day, January 2026, and by April 23rd—day 87—he had covered close to 4,000km. Maintaining a pace of nearly 50km per day, he approached Delhi yesterday and is expected to reach Kashmir by mid-May. If achieved, this feat would not only make him the youngest person to run the length of India but also the first to traverse the country's east coast entirely on foot.
Running for a Cause
Beyond the show of physical prowess, Satija's run serves a greater purpose. The trained physiotherapist aims to raise ₹60 lakh for Udayan Kolkata, an organisation that works with children from marginalised and leprosy-affected communities. Every kilometre of the run translates to roughly ₹1,200 towards education, with the larger goal of supporting 1,000 children over the next five years. The campaign has already achieved ₹17 lakh, with momentum building through community engagement, local participation, and grassroots fundraising events.
A Solo Journey Becomes a Shared Effort
Satija's run has transformed from a solo journey into a shared effort. Across the cities and towns he has traversed, supporters have joined him for short stretches. His challenge is part of a global trend where athletes use extreme endurance challenges to drive social awareness and tangible change. What prompted the young professional to undertake this journey? It was a childhood trip to Ram Jhula in Rishikesh, where he and his father distributed blankets to the needy. "During a visit to India in my school days, at Rishikesh, I saw a person afflicted by leprosy for the first time—an incident that left a deep impact on me," he said.
Though leprosy is a curable disease, it continues to carry stigma in India. More than one lakh new cases were recorded in 2024, and over 800 colonies across the country still house families facing discrimination and exclusion. With the One India Run, Satija aims to encourage young people to believe that fitness, dreaming big, and taking initiative can be powerful tools for social change. "I'm running this entire distance to help support a wonderful cause. Leprosy is something no one talks about; it is a very curable disease, but so many young children live with stigma and are denied opportunities in society. So I am just here to be that voice for them," Satija told AIR News.
