Sep 26, 2025 . Read 5 min
How the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon Became India’s Largest Run for Social Change
Team Vedanta
When most people think of a marathon, they imagine sweat, stamina, and the thrill of crossing the finish line. But the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) is far more than a race, it’s a movement of fitness with purpose. Every step taken fuels a bigger cause: #RunForZeroHunger.
For every kilometre run, Vedanta through the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), provides a Poshan Pack to children at Nand Ghars, its flagship social impact project that reimagines Anganwadis into vibrant centres of nutrition, healthcare, early childhood education, and skill development for women. The marathon also extends its care to animals, supporting The Animal Care Organisation (TACO), AAF’s dedicated animal welfare programme.
Since 2022, this unique run has contributed to nearly 20 million meals, proving that each kilometre doesn’t just measure distance, it measures hope, nourishment, and transformation.
The Rise of India’s Premier Half Marathon
VDHM stands as India’s largest run for social change. In the 2024 edition, nearly 36,000 runners participated in-person, alongside thousands of virtual participants, doubling the impact of the previous year.
Running with Purpose: #RunForZeroHunger
At the heart of VDHM is the #RunForZeroHunger campaign, a simple yet powerful idea: every kilometre run contributes directly towards ensuring nourishment of undernourished children.
Through the Anil Agarwal Foundation, Vedanta pledged to turn every edition of marathon into a movement against hunger. In 2022 and 2023, the initiative delivered over 7 million meals to children benefiting through Nand Ghar. In 2024, the initiative scaled up to an even larger mission. With nearly 70,000 participants, including virtual runners who participated before the actual run, it enabled the support through 10 million meals.
A Celebration of Community and Inclusivity
What makes VDHM truly special is its spirit of inclusivity. The event brings together families, employees, cycling clubs & fitness enthusiasts from every walk of life. In 2024, alongside runners, Vedanta employees across India participated through walkathons, shorter runs, and app-based challenges, amplifying the impact and spirit of togetherness.
The streets of Delhi come alive with energy, cheers, and thousands of footsteps, a festival of community, joy, and shared purpose. The marathon is as much about celebrating human spirit as it is about running.
Global Recognition, Local Spirit
VDHM is not only popular in India but also recognised internationally, holding the World Athletics Gold Label, putting it at par with iconic races like London and Berlin. Elite runners and celebrities such as actor & fitness enthusiast Milind Soman, actor & model Gul Panag, RJ Naved, cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur & Olympic champion Valarie Allman have joined the event, raising awareness for the cause.
Yet, the true energy comes from the local community. Fitness clubs, cyclists, school children, families and volunteers ensure that the marathon remains rooted in Delhi’s vibrant local spirit, making it both a global event and a celebration of the city.
VDHM 2025- Marking a Milestone Year
This October, the Delhi Half Marathon will celebrate its 20th year. To mark the milestone, the Finisher’s Medal was revealed by Delhi’s Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta. Crafted from zinc from Zawar, Udaipur, one of the world’s oldest and largest zinc mines, operated by Hindustan Zinc (a Vedanta Group company). The medal symbolizes strength, endurance and unity, qualities every runner embodies as they cross the finish line.
Beyond Sports- Vedanta’s Community Impact
Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon is a unique platform which combines scale, purpose, and inclusivity.
Through Nand Ghar, millions of children across India now have better access to nutrition, healthcare, education along with support to community women. With TACO and the One Health approach, the marathon also supports animal care and environmental protection. With tens of thousands of runners, local community participation, and global recognition, every kilometre run contributes to tangible social outcomes, demonstrating how sport and business together can create meaningful, lasting change that extends far beyond the finish line.
Looking Ahead
With VDHM 2025 approaching, excitement is building. Participants will not only run for fitness, pride, and camaraderie, but also for a greater purpose. By the finish line, runners realise that the race isn’t just about personal bests, it’s about shared impact, collective purpose, and transforming lives.
