Class 12 student starts women-only running club, raises Rs 8L for streetlights

For some women, going for a run is a simple way to stay fit. For others, it involves checking whether the route is well lit, finding someone to accompany them and deciding whether it is safe to be outdoors after dark. Class 12 student Kridha Gupta from Ambala began noticing how these everyday concerns shaped women's access to fitness. Her own experience played a part. When she wanted to exercise more seriously, her mother was uncomfortable with the idea of sending her to a gym where there were few women. Outdoor workouts were not always convenient either, particularly in poorly lit areas.Instead of accepting these limitations, Kridha decided to bring women together. What began as a small group of five or six runners eventually grew into RunX, a women-only running club with more than 200 members. But the initiative soon became about more than running.