The Global Shapers Kohima Hub would organise the ‘Run for Hope 2026’, a 5-km community run in Kohima on September 10 to raise awareness about mental health, suicide prevention and the importance of building supportive communities.
This was announced during a press briefing by The Global shapers Kohima Hub at FIFA Cafe Kohima on Wednesday.
The initiative will culminate on World Suicide Prevention Day, with the run scheduled to begin at 4.30 a.m. from IG Stadium. Community members aged 18 years and above have been invited to participate.
The campaign seeks to create greater openness around mental health and encourage people to speak about their struggles, seek support and develop stronger community-based approaches to suicide prevention.
The registration fee has been fixed at ₹100 per participant, with the organisers stating that 100% of the proceeds will be donated to organisations working in the field of mental health and suicide prevention in Nagaland.
The run will feature separate amateur and professional categories for both male and female participants. Winners in each category will receive cash prizes of ₹7,000 for first place, ₹5,000 for second place and ₹3,000 for third place.
The initiative is being supported by a range of government, corporate, community, youth, medical, fitness, media and other partners.
The Department of Youth Resources and Sports, Seyie Auto, Lirunas, JP Park and Banquet and Vekhotsa Khotso, retired IPS officer, are among the primary sponsors and supporters.
The Assam Rifles is supporting the event as the medical partner, while My Bharat is the youth partner and FIFA Restaurant the food and beverages partner. The Insighter is supporting the campaign as the marketing partner, with Mewi Higher Secondary School as the school partner and Hillsink as the printing partner.
Other partners include Chache Naga as the memento partner, the Nagaland Bodybuilding Fitness Association as the fitness partner, and Mindspace and PhysioFit as clinic partners. Craate Gift is supporting the initiative as the hamper partner.
The organisers said additional partners are supporting areas including physiotherapy, media and photography, hydration and guest participation.
Speaking at a press conference , Dr Kivi Swu, Impact Officer, Global Shapers Kohima Hub, said the initiative was built on the belief that young people can drive meaningful change in their communities rather than being viewed only as future leaders.
Swu mentioned that the Global Shapers Community is an initiative of the World Economic Forum and brings together young change-makers to promote dialogue, action and solutions to challenges within their communities.
“Run for Hope” is one such community initiative of the Kohima Hub, aimed at bringing different sections of society together around mental health awareness, suicide prevention and community support.
Swu said the initiative could not be achieved by a single organisation and expressed gratitude to the various partners, sponsors and individuals who have extended their support.
She emphasised that the event should not be viewed merely as a run or a programme where people participate as spectators, but as an opportunity for the community to actively support a larger cause.
Swu urged people to “show up” for the cause and contribute in whatever way they can, saying collective participation could demonstrate what is possible when people and organisations come together with a shared purpose.
‘Suicide Prevention Must Become a Community Conversation’
Suicide prevention cannot be addressed only through clinical interventions and must become a wider community conversation, psychologist Rovikhono Savino said ahead of the ‘Run for Hope 2026’ organised by the Global Shapers Kohima Hub.
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Savino, a psychologist and member of the Global Shapers Kohima Hub, said her experience working at the grassroots level in mental health in the Nagaland had highlighted the importance of understanding the social and community dimensions of mental health.
She said one of the key challenges is whether people feel safe enough to seek help, whether families understand mental health concerns and know how to respond, and whether communities can discuss such issues without judgment or stigma.
“Suicide prevention cannot only be a clinical conversation, it also has to be a community conversation,” Savino said.
She said the Run for Hope initiative seeks to create a space where conversations around mental health become more open and less uncomfortable, while encouraging people to show solidarity with those facing mental health challenges.
Savino emphasised that seeking professional help should not be viewed as a sign of weakness, but as an act of strength.
She also clarified that the event’s operational costs are being covered separately through sponsorships and support from partners, allowing the registration contribution to be directed towards the cause.
The organisers also urged participation from people across different walks of life, stressing that mental health and suicide prevention are not issues confined to any particular section of society.
“We don’t see this just as another community run. We see it as a small but meaningful step towards building a culture where people feel seen, supported and comfortable seeking help,” she said.
90+ Sign Up as Kohima’s ‘Run for Hope’ Builds Momentum for Mental Health Cause
Imlikokla Jamir, Marketing Agent and founder of The Insighter, said the initiative marked an important milestone for both the Global Shapers Kohima Hub and its partners, particularly in bringing mental health into wider public conversations.
Jamir said the campaign’s outreach strategy was not based on a large corporate promotional machinery or heavy advertising, but relied largely on organic community support.
With nine days remaining before the event, Jamir said the campaign had recorded more than 90 registrations, describing the response as promising.
She noted that some participants had also contributed the ₹100 registration amount primarily as a donation, even if they may not ultimately be able to attend the event.
Jamir highlighted that the registration contribution will go towards mental health organisations and initiatives in Nagaland, while event-related costs are being met separately through sponsorships and partner support.
Jamir also appealed to athletes, young people and members of the wider community across Nagaland to participate, saying the event could become a platform for people to collectively stand behind mental health awareness.
On the campaign’s visual identity, Jamir said the branding uses red, blue, green and orange to symbolise vitality, calm, growth and energy, reflecting the balance and holistic approach required in addressing mental wellbeing.
She noted that the campaign demonstrates what communities can achieve when individuals and organisations with shared values work together.
“From a marketing point of view, it speaks volumes about what a community with shared values and goals can achieve,” Jamir said, adding that meaningful collaborations can contribute to wider social development and sustainability.
The Global Shapers Kohima Hub appealed to members of the community to come forward and participate in the run, stressing that collective action and community support can play an important role in promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
The Run for Hope 2026 will therefore combine physical activity with a broader message of solidarity, encouraging communities to create spaces where people feel supported, heard and valued.
The initiative is intended not only as a sporting event but as a platform to foster empathy, encourage conversations around mental wellbeing and remind people that they are not alone in times of distress.
The initiative carries the message “Every Step Gives Hope”, reflecting its focus on solidarity, community support and encouraging people to reach out rather than struggle alone.
One can register via Instagram: @globalshaperkohima. Last date to register is September 8, 2026.
