Red Run held to spread HIV AIDS awareness

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) organised the State-level 2026 Red Run marathon to create awareness among youth and the public about HIV AIDS and promote preventive measures.

APSACS Project Director B Smaran Raj formally inaugurated the event at the BRTS Road in Vijayawada by releasing balloons.

He said the primary objective of the Red Run was to educate people, particularly youngsters, about how HIV is transmitted and how it cannot be transmitted.

The Red Run was conducted in all districts, with the top three winners from each district qualifying for the State-level event. The winners at the State level would be considered for participation in regional and national-level marathon events, officials said. Participants from 28 districts took part in the State-level competition.

In the men’s category, M Naresh of GVD Degree College, Salur, Parvathipuram Manyam district, secured first place and received Rs 35,000. N Niranjan of the same college won second place and received Rs 25,000, while K Manikantha of Rajahmundry Arts Degree College, East Godavari district, stood third and received Rs 10,000.

In the women’s category, E Swathi of Chirala, Bapatla district, won first place and received Rs 35,000. B Spandana of Gummalakshmipuram Degree College, Parvathipuram Manyam district, secured second place and received Rs 25,000, while G Gayatri of BVK Junior College, Visakhapatnam, finished third and received Rs 10,000. APDT Dr K Bhagy Lakshmi, JD IEC Dr T Manjula, JD CST Dr Srinivasa Varma, JD TI Sukumar, DLTO NTR district Dr Bhanu Naik, DSDO K Koteswara Rao, District Tourism Officer Dr K Ramesh and Dr Rajendra Prasad, APSACS staff, sports personnel, Disha staff and representatives of partner NGOs and TI teams participated in the programme.

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