DIMAPUR — The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) conducted their annual ‘Run to Reforest’ (R2 Run) event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima on Saturday.
In an update, the tEA informed that a total of 471 runners turned up for the event, which commenced at High School Junction via Secretariat and culminated at the IG Stadium.
The run was officially flagged off by Paralympics bronze medallist Hokato H Sema with technical assistance from Nagaland Athletic Association (NAA).
In his address, Neichute Doulo, CEO of tEA, reflected on the significance of the event and how trees are crucial for both the environment and wealth generation.
He emphasised on how the Trees for Wealth (TfW) Movement will help demonstrate Nagaland as a vibrant economic zone whereby liquid money is lucratively generated apart from supporting human life.
Neichute further stated that the R2 Run isn’t solely focused on combating climate change but aims to create wealth landscapes for NER India, based on the environment.
Hokato H Sema recounted how he lost all hope during the initial stages of his paralysis from a tragic landmine explosion while serving in the military in 2002. However, he was able to persevere and win a bronze medal at the Paralympics 2024 under the Shotput F-56/57event through faith, commitment to the craft, and with God’s divine intervention.
Hokato urged the runners to never lose hope and to keep pushing through even in the face of adversity and continual disappointments.
Neikule Doulo, executive director of tEA, also underscored the participation of individuals from all walks of life as the silver lining of the day.
This was followed by the prize distribution ceremony with Chitsiarho Po, programmes manager at tEA announcing the winners from all the seven categories.
The R2 Run 2.0 witnessed an interesting feat with the winners from the previous edition bagging the prize again. The oldest and youngest participants were 76 and four years old, respectively.
The ‘Run to Reforest’ or R2 Run is an initiative under tEA’s flagship programme, namely Trees for Wealth (TfW), which aggressively addresses a multitude of socio-economic setbacks such as low income generation, limited employment opportunities, trends of urbanisation, and climate change.