PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A large number of citizens participated in Madathon 2026 held on Sunday morning to mark 15 years of youth-led environmental group Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) and elicit focus on ecological revival. According to the organisers, upto to 5,000 citizens participated in the run which was completely plastic-free. The run started at Parade Ground and passed through various areas before culminating at the starting point. The massive turnout focused on the environmental crisis and mobilising the community to fight for the rejuvenation of Dehradun’s drying and dying streams.
To ensure the event did not contribute to the very pollution it was fighting against, MAD eliminated single-use plastics entirely, setting a strict zero-waste standard for large-scale public events. Instead of single-use plastic bottles or disposable cups, thousands of runners were hydrated exclusively using reusable steel glasses at every station. Furthermore, the organisers proved that green events are entirely possible by dressing the venue using decor crafted from upcycled waste materials. Toxic plastic flex banners were also completely banned from the route, replaced instead by handmade cloth banners painted by MAD’s youth volunteers. Through these actions, the group walked the talk, transforming a simple morning run into a live demonstration of sustainable, zero-waste urban living. Social organisations Hausala Foundation and Tara Foundation also collaborated to execute the initiative.
