23-year-old covers 50-55 km daily since Jan 26; says ‘people fear what they don’t understand’
Qazigund, May 14: Australian physiotherapist Om Satheja has completed nearly 4,900 kilometres of his 5,000-km run across India — from Kanyakumari to Srinagar’s Lal Chowk — to raise awareness about leprosy and fight the stigma surrounding the disease.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) at Qazigund, the 23-year-old said the journey was aimed at spreading awareness about leprosy, promoting compassion and inspiring youth through what he termed the “One India Run”. Om, who belongs to an Indian-origin family settled in Australia, said he left for the mission on January 26 this year and reached Qazigund on the 109th day of his journey.
The runner said the idea for the campaign emerged from a childhood experience in Rishikesh when he first encountered people suffering from leprosy near Ram Jhula bridge. “When I was 10 years old, I saw leprosy patients for the first time. Years later, when the idea came to run across India, I wanted to support the children of leprosy patients and help fight the stigma attached to the disease,” he said.
Calling the run both a personal and social mission, Om said he wanted to challenge himself physically while also serving society. “When you try to do something difficult, you discover your true self,” he said.
During the journey, he covered around 50 to 55 kilometres daily, with his highest single-day distance touching 70 kilometres. He said the run took him through 12 states where he interacted with students, villagers and local communities.
Om said he faced several challenges, including extreme heat in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and West Bengal, where temperatures crossed 42 degrees Celsius, along with injuries, exhaustion and health issues. “Running eight hours daily in such heat was very difficult. Even in J&K, the mountains have been challenging. But difficult situations help you find inner strength,” he said.
Speaking about leprosy stigma, Om said the disease is completely curable, but the lack of awareness continues to create fear and discrimination. “People fear what they don’t understand. My message is not only about leprosy but about treating everyone with love, empathy and compassion. Once you understand people, you realise we are all the same,” he said.
Satheja said the journey received overwhelming support from people across the country, with hundreds joining him during different stages of the run. “I call this the One India Run because I believe movement and compassion can unite people. My message to the youth is to believe in themselves, work together and make positive changes for society,” he added. (KNO)
