Bhubaneswar: Women can do anything. That’s the message 49-year-old Michelle Kakade from Mumbai wants to convey through her ‘expedition’. Michelle is on a Forrest Gump-like run across the length and breadth of India.
She set off on the mission October 21 from Gateway of India and has already covered 3,400 km. She intends to cover another 2,600 km by the end of April.
Michelle has already passed through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, covering 35 to 40 km in the morning each day. She reached Tomando on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar — along the NH5 — Wednesday.
One of the chief objectives of her mission is a Guinness World Record. “My aim is to set a world record by covering 6,000 km on foot. I run from 5am to 10.30am each day. I rest to relax my muscles during the rest of the day,” Michelle said.
Apart from a desire to set a world record Michelle also wants to spread the message of women’s empowerment through her expedition. A seven-member team, including a physician, is accompanying Michelle on the expedition.
“I set out on this expedition to prove that women can do anything. Women are considered weak, and don’t get respect or importance. I want to prove that we are strong and have the strength to face anything. Strong willpower make us fighters.”
Records are not new to this gritty woman. A Guinness World Record would only be an addition to the three records she already has in her name in the Limca Book of Records. Two of these were awarded for running in a desert and on a treadmill. “There is a vast difference between running on roads and in a desert. One can barely walk in a desert,” Michelle said of her previous record-setting attempt. “When I started running from Mumbai, I faced lots of problems. The climate varied from one place to another and it took me time to adapt to the changes in climate. I became ill and even contracted a chest infection owing to pollution, but I didn’t give up.”
Michelle, who is a regular participant in races, says her husband has stood behind her like a rock, encouraging her to take up such difficult missions. “I am able to take up such missions only because my husband supports them. He supports me in my every endeavor. He has always believed I am capable of completing any difficult task and never stopped me from doing anything.”
She is also vociferous when it comes to advocating the health benefits of walking and running. “Wherever I go, I encourage people to regularly walk and run a few kilometres as it helps us keep fit and fine.”
According to Michelle, her journey till Bhubaneswar has been exciting as people, too, were excited about her mission. “I received great support in Gujarat and Kolkata, and I hope the people of Orissa will also extend the same support.”
On Thursday, Michelle will resume her journey right from the very spot she stopped for the day. She will be passing through Chennai and Bangalore besides other southern cities en route. PNN
