On the 26th October 2008 the Sant Nirankari Mission (West Midlands Branch) joined in the Birmingham Half Marathon. A group of ten devotees of the Mission were registered to participate. The Start point was the well known Alexandra Stadium in Perry Barr and the running route was approximately 13.1 miles taking the runners through various parts of Birmingham including, Newtown, the City Centre, Edgbaston, Hagley Road and Bearwood.

There were over 9,000 people competing in the run and the Nirankari Devotees gathered at the start line at 9am taking the blessing of most respected H.S. Upashak Ji before commencement. Everyone wore T-Shirts with the message of the Mission emblazoned on saying, “Change Your Environment.” The theme of the marathon surrounded climate change and making people aware of eco-issues. It was considered that the message of the Mission was two fold in that primarily, we should all accept that this entire environment is ours. It is personal to every individual that the whole world belongs to every person of this world and that countries should not be divided. Secondly, it was thought that if we change our personal inner environment, then the way we see the world will naturally change.

The first successful runner competed, the race within a time of 1.05 minutes. Out of the missionary runners Puneet Ahuja completed the run within a time of 2.05minutes and the final contestant completed it within 3.15 minutes. It was felt as a magnificent achievement, in particular the resilience of Sister Jagjit Kaur Tutt who was the senior most contestant and proved that with the blessings of Baba Ji when you put your mind to something then in his words, “The Sky is the Limit.”

Congratulations go out to all participants who on this occasion gave the message of His Holiness that although spirituality and its progress is crucial in the life of every human being, protection of the environment and the related issues must also be brought into the awareness of the human psyche for the future of the World and our children.