Over 4000 people have signed up for the highly awaited inaugural Fast&Up Mumbai Walkathon 2025, which will be held in Mumbai on March 16, 2025. The event has three categories: 10km Pro Walk, 5km Family Walk, and 3km Fun Walk.
The Walkathon, powered by JustWalkindia, will begin at the JVPD Ground in Juhu and will take walkers past Amitabh Bachchan’s home before continuing to Juhu Beach and returning.
To know more on the event, SportsMint Media had the privilege of interviewing Vinay Bhartia, Co-Founder, JustWalkIndia. Mr. Bhartia shared insights on various topics, including strategies for brand exposure, the story behind these exciting sponsorships, the core values of the Walkathon, and more.
1. What’s it been like to bring an event of this scale to life, and what has the journey taught you so far?
It’s been humbling and rewarding, filled with many learnings. When we set up the JustWalkIndia initiative with the Faster than Mumbai Walkathon, we must have met at least 400-500 walkers in person. Asking them questions, talking to them, and understanding why they walk and how it benefits them has been the greatest learning experience. This has greatly helped us in shaping what we’ve built so far.
2. What strategies does the Mumbai Walkathon 2025 use to ensure sponsors get maximum brand exposure and engagement?
Partners are extremely important to the success of any event, and we make sure to take care of them. For example, with our title sponsor, Fasten Up, and associate sponsor, Hamleys, as well as other partners, we’ve worked hard to give them a platform where they can engage with the walkers in a way that suits them. We offer them various avenues for visibility, from social media and press conferences to the Expo day, Walk day, and even post-event promotions. We focus on ensuring they have the space to share, communicate, and engage in a way that works best for them.
3. What’s the story behind how these exciting sponsorships came to be, and how did the partnerships first take shape?
It’s been quite interesting. For instance, when we met with Satishji Khanna, the chairman of Fasten Up, he immediately connected with our mission. He shared how he and his family had been walking for years, and they wanted to support us. That initial conversation led to the partnership between Mumbai and Delhi, which is just the beginning of many more partnerships in the future. Similarly, with Hamleys, we spoke to their leadership, and they instantly saw the alignment between Just Walk India and their brand. They stand for joy, and we celebrate health, joy, and unity. It was a natural fit. As a result, they decided to bring an experience zone to the walkathon where walkers can interact with the Hamleys bear. It’s all about creating joy and engagement.
4. How do you make sure the brands you collaborate with truly resonate with the mission and values of the Walkathon?
It’s crucial that the brands we partner with align with our values. For example, we work with a co-working space partner to emphasize healthy lifestyles, and Global Outdoor Advertising helps us leverage their screens and inventory to spread our message. Red FM lends their voice, and Unilever is involved with their sunscreen products. Every brand adds value by aligning with our message of health and wellness, which is central to the event.
5. Could you tell us about your impact partnerships, particularly with Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust and Roti Bank?
Absolutely. Impact partnerships are a key part of the walkathon. With Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust, we focus on providing prosthetic legs for people in need, helping those without mobility. Roti Bank, on the other hand, helps provide food for the underprivileged. Both partners play an essential role, and we’re working with multiple corporates to leverage CSR initiatives that support these causes. It’s all about creating meaningful social impact.
6. In what ways can businesses integrate their CSR initiatives with the Walkathon to create a meaningful impact?
Businesses can align with the event in several ways. They can send their employees and families to participate in the walk, or they can contribute to our CSR partners. For instance, they can help provide prosthetic limbs through Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust or support Roti Bank’s feeding initiatives. We already have several corporations talking to us about contributing to these causes, which helps us make a bigger social impact.7
7. What kind of impact are you hoping to achieve with the Just Walk India event, both in terms of participation and social change?
The impact is enormous. Let me share some interesting numbers: We expect 45 million steps to be walked on March 16th. Around 52% of the participants will be women, with ages ranging from 5 to 88 years old. Beyond just health, there will be a significant social impact. Charity initiatives will happen, and people will be healthier. For us, the bigger impact lies in these collective steps toward creating a healthier, more socially-conscious community.