Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan Hosts “Run for Charity: Meaningful Marathon 2.0” to Support Vulnerable Children
Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan successfully hosted the second edition of its community-driven charity initiative, “Run for Charity: Meaningful Marathon 2.0,” on Friday morning, bringing together around 200 participants for a 5-kilometre run dedicated to supporting children in need.
Organised as part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Giving for Good Month, the marathon brought together hotel colleagues, corporate partners, community members and running enthusiasts. Former Bangladesh national footballer Zahid Hasan Ameli also joined the 5-kilometre run, adding to the enthusiasm and spirit of the event. The initiative brought people together for a morning focused on health, wellness and purposeful giving.
The run began at 5:30 AM from Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan, with participants completing a 5-kilometre route before returning to the hotel. Each participant contributed BDT 1,500 towards the initiative, with the full contribution going to Odommo Bangladesh Foundation (Mojar School) to support its work for vulnerable children. With approximately 200 runners participating, the initiative generated a contribution of around BDT 300,000.
Speaking about the initiative, Karthi VK, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan, said, “Meaningful Marathon 2.0 is a reflection of what can happen when people come together with a shared purpose. We are grateful to every participant, partner and colleague who helped turn a morning run into meaningful support for children in need. Following the response to our first edition, it was inspiring to see the community come together once again and make every kilometre count.”
The event was made possible through the valued support of its partners: Latest Garments and Garibazar as Prime Partners, ZXY and 7Streams as T-Shirt Partners, Air Astra as Airline Partner, Sunquick as Beverage Partner, SMC as Hydration Partner and Polar Ice Cream as Ice Cream Partner. Their support helped bring the event to life while strengthening its message of community, participation and giving back.
Latest Garments and Garibazar shared their commitment to the initiative, saying, “We are proud to support Meaningful Marathon 2.0 and be part of an initiative that brings people together for a meaningful cause. We believe that collective action, however small, can create a positive impact in the lives of children and communities in need.”
Representing the T-Shirt Partnership, ZXY and 7Streams said, “We are delighted to be part of Meaningful Marathon 2.0. Supporting an initiative that promotes an active lifestyle while contributing to a meaningful social cause reflects the kind of community engagement we believe in. We are happy to contribute to making this experience memorable for every participant.”
At Air Astra, Mesbahul Islam, Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We believe that strong communities are built on compassion, action and working together. That is why we are honoured and delighted to support Meaningful Marathon 2026 as an official Airline Partner. The work done by IHG Hotels & Resorts transforms lives and brings hope where it is needed most. Seeing the dedication of the organisers, volunteers and participants inspires us all. We congratulate everyone involved in making the event a reality and wish the initiative continued success and impact.”
The marathon also focused on making the experience memorable for every participant. Every runner received a commemorative medal, while certificates were presented to all participants in recognition of their contribution to the cause. Participants also received event T-shirts and were treated to a refreshing buffet breakfast at the hotel following the run. The top five finishers were also recognized with special prizes, adding an extra element of excitement and celebration to the event.
The initiative builds on the success of last year’s Run for Charity: A Meaningful Marathon, which was also organized by Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan as part of IHG’s Giving for Good Month. The 2025 event brought together participants for a charity run promoting health, wellbeing and social responsibility.
Through Meaningful Marathon 2.0, Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan continued its commitment to creating opportunities for colleagues, partners and the wider community to contribute to meaningful social causes while promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.