The journey of the Tata Mumbai Marathon has been transformative since its inception and has redefined the health, fitness, and giving paradigm in India …Change Began Here. As we begin the countdown to the landmark 20th edition of the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, 269 NGOs, corporates, and citizens have collectively raised INR 43 crores to date. Fundraising for the event continues until Wednesday, 5 February 2025.
Spearheaded by United Way Mumbai, the event’s Philanthropy Partner, the Tata Mumbai Marathon has established itself as the country’s single largest sporting platform for philanthropy, raising over ₹429 crores for 740 NGOs with the support of 600 corporates. This remarkable convergence of runners, donors, NGOs, and corporates continues to drive social change and empower communities nationwide.
George Aikara, CEO, United Way Mumbai, said: As the Philanthropy Partner since 2009, we’ve seen the marathon evolve into a powerful force for social change. This year’s record-breaking turnout of 13,000 individuals alone running through charity, showcases TMM’s unique ability to inspire and engage.
Already, more than 222 fundraisers have raised over ₹1 lakh each on the platform, and the average fundraiser has brought in ₹2 lakh for causes spanning health, education, gender equality, and more. These numbers are a testament to the growing enthusiasm among participants. A special mention to the 6 ‘Change Legends’ – Ms Villy Doctor, Dr. Bijal Mehta, Meera Mehta, Sunit Kothari, Shyam Jasani and Utppal Mehta – who have each raised over ₹1 crore, making a lasting impact.
What’s exciting this year is that we also saw a significant increase in corporate participation, with businesses rallying their teams to fundraise and run together, reflecting the growing trend of companies leveraging the TMM platform to champion social responsibility.”
At a press meet held on Tuesday, 14th January, an inspiring panel of top fundraisers, NGO leaders, and young philanthropists shared their stories of fundraising and impact. Dr. Bijal Mehta, an ophthalmologist and trustee of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC), emerged as one of the highest fundraisers, collecting an astounding ₹1.5 crores for the same NGO. Her efforts will support SRLC’s work in making education accessible in rural India, and also supporting animal care and health. “The TMM provides us with an incredible platform to reach supporters and turn our vision into reality. Every two years, we’ve been able to create robust infrastructure and oversee more than 75 projects, leveraging this platform to bring about meaningful change,” she said.
Joining her was Shivaprasad Khened, Trustee of ADHAR (An Association of Parents of Mentally Challenged Adults) Home, and also a parent of an adult with intellectual disabilities. Sharing his personal journey of raising funds for the organisation he added, “Intellectual disabilities, particularly in adults is a cause that’s often misunderstood, and platforms like the TMM help bridge that gap in spreading visibility and awareness of intellectual disability, an area that is still underrepresented in discussions around mental health.”
Among the standout stories was that of Mihaan Gandhi Dhall, a 20-year-old athlete with Down Syndrome, who has been training diligently for his Open 10K run and has raised over ₹6+ lakhs for Ummeed Child Development Center through the TMM platform so far. This is his third year running the 10K at the TMM, inspired by his journey of finding confidence in running through his coach and friend, Rustom Warden. “I run because the cause of disability inclusion is close to my heart. People with disabilities, including those like me with Down Syndrome, should have a voice and be treated equally,” said Dhall.
Among the youth, 16-year-old fundraiser Shaurya Banga stood out as the highest fundraiser under 21, raising ₹30 lakh for the Oscar Foundation. “Sports have shaped who I am — teaching me resilience, discipline, and the value of teamwork,” said Banga. “Through the TMM, I’m honored to support OSCAR Foundation’s incredible work using football to inspire kids to stay in school and build life skills. I hope more young people join this movement to create real change in the world,” he added.
Former Managing Director of Franklin Templeton Investments Vivek Kudva has raised funds on the platform from 2011 to 2016 and now again in 2025. Raising funds for dementia care after witnessing his sister’s struggles, Kudva remarked, “I want to improve the ecosystem of caregiving, including job-creation for caregivers, to help those who don’t have access to the care they need. Currently, caregiving is seen as the burden of the family. And so, I’ve pledged to match every rupee raised through my campaign with my personal wealth to amplify the impact.”
Cancer survivor Venkatraman S, another panellist, is raising funds for three NGOs working on cancer research and patient care this year. “My personal fight against cancer inspires me year after year to run at the TMM holding a banner that reads, “Let’s Run Cancer Away.” and give back to society. Many people don’t have the resources to fight this disease, and I hope my efforts can help raise awareness about the importance of early detection,” he said.
Corporate participation has seen an unprecedented rise this year, with 165 companies rallying their employees to run and raise funds. HDFC Bank, fielding the largest-ever team of 1,500 runners, was among the corporates celebrated at the press meet. “Corporate philanthropy is not just about donations; it’s about engaging our teams in meaningful action. The response from our employees speaks volumes – 1,500 registrations closed within 15 to 20 minutes! It reflects the anticipation and commitment they have toward making a difference,” said Nusrat Pathan, Head – Corporate Social Responsibility, HDFC Bank.
Over 1,300 fundraising pages have been created this year, with participants turning philanthropy into a gamified challenge. While raising ₹10,000 is sufficient to earn a charity bib, many have far exceeded this amount, with the average fundraiser collecting ₹2 lakh. Impressively, 222 individuals have raised over ₹1 lakh each.
TMM Green Bib – An Agro Forest Initiative is a testament to the power of collective action, with thousands of runners coming together to create a greener, healthier future. Last year, thanks to their contributions, ₹31,85,160 was raised, allowing the plantation and nurturing of 5,016 trees in Solapur. One of the farmers who benefited was Yuvraj Ravikant Patil from Solapur’s Tirth block. He reflected on the impact and said, “These trees have given me hope. They will bring stability to our income and allow us to keep farming on our ancestral land despite the challenges.”
The 2025 edition’s spirit of giving has grown even stronger, with ₹36,01,720 raised. This will enable the planting and care of 5,672 trees, creating vibrant green spaces and supporting communities that depend on them. Every tree planted symbolizes runners’ commitment to a cause bigger than themselves, transforming the marathon into a movement for sustainability.
Vivek Singh, Jt. MD, Procam International, concluded, “The Tata Mumbai Marathon stands as a shining example of how distance running can inspire social change. Over the past two decades, it has built one of India’s most inclusive and impactful philanthropic platforms, raising over ₹470 crores for countless causes. What makes this truly remarkable is the collective spirit it fosters—uniting corporates, individuals, and communities to champion change. Congratulations to all our fundraisers, NGOs and corporates for their stellar efforts.”
With over 13,000 runners set to run for philanthropy, the TMM 2025 is more than just a sporting event – it is a movement, proving that collective action can drive transformative change, one step at a time.
