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Get, Set, Go: Anil Ambani participates in the Standard Chartered Marathon 2008. file pic

The Mumbai marathon has outrun the economic meltdown or global recession call it what you want. In the time of pink slips, salary and job cuts, corporates continue raising money for the event to be run on January 18.  The official marathon charity United Way of Mumbai actually sees the charity amount climbing from Rs 8 crore in 2008 to Rs 10 crore for the 2009 run.

Other figures prove that more corporates are raising money and investing in the marathon. In the Corporate Challenge, where companies form teams (30 runners in one team) and raise Rs 2.25 lakh minimum per team, there are 162 teams compared to the 120 odd teams that were there last year.

In the Corporate Sporting Challenge, where four members form a team and run the 42-km event, raising a minimum of Rs 2.25 lakh per team, there are 10 teams, which is the same number as last year.

The 'Dream Teamers' who are running the seven-km Dream Run and raising Rs 1 lakh per individual for charity has gone up from 59 in 2008 to 73 in 2009. This edition sees an entirely new category called, 'Dream Champions'. These are individuals who have to raise Rs 10 lakh each for charity, while doing the Dream Run.

There are three individuals in this group: Anand Mahindra, Amit Chandra and Archana Chandra. United Way of Mumbai Chief Executive Officer Jayanti Shukla said, "We have raised Rs 4 crore in the registration fee itself. We do project a figure of Rs 10 crore for charity but the final pledges will be come in by February 2009."

Shukla said, "Initially,  recession did affect us.  We did not raise a huge amount in October and November last year. But things picked up in December."

Quick glance
Charity target: Rs 10 crore; up by Rs 2 crore (approx) from last year
Corporate Challenge: Approximately 40 more teams raising money than last year
Corporate Sporting Challenge: 10 teams same as last year
Dream Teamers: Up from 59 to 73 this year
Dream Champions: New category introduced in 2009 raising Rs 10 lakh each

Mumbai's climbing charity graph
This is the sixth edition of the Mumbai marathon. Every year, one sees an upward swing in the amount raised for charity. Here is the breakdown in figures. 
2004: Amount raised: Rs 1.44 crore
2005: Amount raised: Rs 4 crore
2006: Amount raised: Rs 4.5 crore
2007: Amount raised: Rs 7.94 crore
2008: Amount raised: Rs 8.05 crore
2009: Projected amount: Rs 10 crore

Marathon briefs

Road ready
Paint the town, yellow and black. That seems to be the mantra as BMC workers spruce up the roads near Shivaji Park yesterday. Raasta, raasta dekho aankh meri ladhi hai.

Money honey
United Way, the official marathon charity partner, says that it held workshops for several corporates  teaching them how to raise money. People needed to be trained about  how to pop that all-awkward question about money.

Sweaty toll
The configuration of the full marathon may change in the future as the Bandra Worli Sea Link becomes operational. Full marathon runners may stream down that bridge and the only toll they have to pay will be with the sweat they shed as the run the gruelling 42 km.

Well-heal-ed
The Mumbai marathon race director, Hugh Jones, in Mumbai from London said, "The marathon would give a healing touch to the city. after the 26/11 terror attacks. The marathon in New York post 9/11 and in Madrid after the train attacks had similar effects."

Compiled by Hemal Ashar 
hemal@mid-day.com