Runner Haseena Themali raises over Rs 5 lakh for palliative care at Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026

Forty-three-year old runner and coach Haseena Themali has successfully raised Rs 5,01,001 for palliative care during her debut fundraising run at the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) 2026, marking a significant contribution to end-of-life care services in Karnataka.

With the support of 95 donors, Haseena's fundraising campaign aims to strenghten palliative care services for terminally ill cancer patients, ensuring free, compassionate, and dignified care. The funds raised will be utilised to establish Tapasya Foundation's first world-class palliative care centre in Mangaluru, a crucial step twoards addressing the growing need for end-stage cancer care in the region. 

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Haseena represented Tapasya Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing comprehensive palliative and hopsice care for cancer patients. While she is an experienced runner and coach, this marathon marked her first-ever journey as a fundraiser, making the achievement particularly meaningful.

Speaking about her experience, Haseena said, “When the idea of fundraising through the Tata Mumbai Marathon came up, I initially thought it would be easy. But explaining the cause and earning people’s trust was far more challenging. I wanted to go beyond chasing personal milestones and use sport for a purpose. This journey has given me immense happiness and fulfilment.”

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For Haseena, participating in the Tata Mumbai Marathon was not merely a physical challenge. It became a powerful platform to raise awareness about the importance of palliative care, especially for patients in the final stages of cancer and their families who require emotional, medical, and psychological support.

Her initiative reflects a growing trend within India’s running community, where athletes and coaches are increasingly leveraging large sporting platforms like the Tata Mumbai Marathon to drive social impact. By transforming personal passion into meaningful community support, Haseena’s effort stands as a compelling example of sport being used as a force for compassion and change.