Purple PreemieGlobal Run 2026
It is early morning in Thane. The first purple flags move in the morning air, and a father shifts his small daughter onto his shoulders to see the start line. A nurse laughs with a mother she has not seen in months. Nobody is in a hurry yet.
Purple Preemie Global Run 2026 is a run for babies born early, their families and the NICU teams who care for them. Join us in Thane on Sunday, 15 November, or run your own distance anywhere in India on the same day.
Every Preemie Deserves a Solid START & a Long RUN
Some babies arrive before anyone is ready.
Their families learn a new language quickly: grams, monitors, skin to skin, waiting. The nurses and doctors who learn it with them become part of the family for a while.
Purple Preemie Global Run is an annual awareness and fundraising run for premature birth and neonatal care. The morning in Thane is a purple celebration, and the stories told there are shared with care.
- Awareness of premature birth and neonatal care.
- A clearer picture of life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), for the people who have never needed one.
- Recognition for parents, doctors, nurses and neonatal support teams.
- Support for parents who need NICU care for their preemies.
Prematurity is closer to home than many of us realise.
Sources: WHO preterm birth fact sheet; WHO and The Lancet, 2023.
Come to Thane, or start from your own front door.
Hiranandani Estate, Thane
Be at the start line in the early morning of Sunday, 15 November. Four categories, timed and non-timed, a family zone, entertainment, awareness activities and a celebration stage wait for you.
Your street, your park, your pace
Complete your distance anywhere in India on Sunday, 15 November and upload your activity afterwards. A digital participation certificate comes to you.
Choose a distance. Keep the pace you like.
Each registration is a contribution towards supporting parents who need NICU care for their preemies. All amounts are in Indian rupees.
Convenience fees charged by the registration portal are extra.
Walk
Non-timedSlow enough to talk along the way. For parents, grandparents, children and supporters, and the place where the NICU Heroes Lap takes place.
Fun Run
Non-timedNo clock. Run with colleagues, friends or family at whatever pace the group agrees on.
Timed Run
Timed, with chipA chip on your bib, an official time and a digital timing certificate to keep.
Timed Run
Timed, with chipFor regular and competitive runners. The chip keeps your time while you keep your head down.
NICU Heroes Lap
During the 2K Walk, children who were born early lead a short lap, with their parents or caregivers beside them. It is a celebration, and it is entirely each family's choice. Nobody is asked to share medical details.
Open to participants in India only, on 15 November.
You can add a larger donation to the cause at checkout.
What is waiting for you at the finish.
- Official Purple Preemie Global Run T-shirt
- Race bib
- Timing chip for eligible timed categories
- Finisher medal
- Post-run refreshments
- Digital timing certificate for timed participants
- Goodie bag
- Hydration and on-ground support
- Digital participation certificate
- Option to add the official Purple Preemie Global Run T-shirt and finisher medal at an additional cost
Entitlements may vary by category. Final inclusions are shared with participants before the event.
A purple morning in Thane.
Arrive early and purple is the first thing you notice, on the flags, in the lighting and on the people around you. The day is built to feel welcoming. Medical conversations stay short and plain, and nothing on site uses graphic medical images.
Purple Start Line
Preemie parents and neonatal professionals lead the countdown. Then a purple ribbon is cut, in place of the usual flag-off.
Purple Mile
One stretch of the route is lined with messages from parents and thanks to neonatal nurses and doctors. Read them as you pass.
NICU Journey Tunnel
Walk through the stages many families go through, from an unexpected early birth to the day they go home and the follow-up care after. Illustrations, audio and simple explanations guide you, and nothing is graphic.
Purple Family Zone
A place to sit down. Feeding and changing facilities, sensory-friendly activities, child-safe entertainment, storytelling and parent support resources.
NICU Heroes Wall
Families write a child's first name, a note of thanks or a message to families still in the NICU. Photographs go up only with consent.
Celebration Stage
Warm-up sessions to begin, then music, family stories, short conversations with neonatal experts and recognition for NICU nurses and support staff.
A quiet place beside the Purple Mile
A separate tribute section is set aside for families who have experienced loss. It stays apart from the rest of the route. Stop for as long as you wish, or walk on.
Bib collection and parking details will be shared closer to the event date.
The race day elements described here may not all be available on the day. They remain at the discretion of the event organisers.
Come as a school or as a team.
Bring your school
Bring the children, their parents and your teaching staff. Register a school team, host an awareness session or organise a walk on your campus.
Start a ConversationBring your team
Employee running teams, payroll giving, donation matching and a purple office day.
Discuss a Partnership
Little Fern cares for babies and families at its NICU and paediatric units in Ghatkopar, Thane and Navi Mumbai. The run is organised by Dr Kiran More, Neonatologist and Founder and Director of Little Fern Neonatology Services.
Abunduntia is a Brand Growth, Sports and Experience Management company. It plans the race, the partnerships and the communication.
Tell us how you would like to be part of the morning.
Schools, companies and sponsors can write to us here. The Abunduntia team reads every enquiry and replies with next steps.
- Schools: children, parents and teaching staff, with awareness sessions and campus walks.
- Companies: employee teams, payroll giving and donation matching.
- Sponsors: category and event partnerships.
Questions people ask first.
Is there an early bird offer?
Yes. Register on or before 11 October 2026 and receive ₹100 off every category, physical and virtual.
Is there an extra discount through ambassadors?
Yes. Our ambassadors can offer another ₹100 off. Visit our Instagram page to find an ambassador.
Are there any charges besides the contribution?
Convenience fees charged by the registration portal are extra.
What time does the run start?
The run starts in the early morning on Sunday, 15 November 2026.
Can I take part from outside Thane?
Yes. The virtual run is open to participants anywhere in India. Complete your distance on 15 November and upload your activity.
Is the virtual run open outside India?
No. The virtual run is for participants in India only.
Can I walk instead of run?
Yes. The 2K Walk and the 5K Fun Run are non-timed. The virtual run has a 2K Walk and a 5K Run or Walk.
Is the NICU Heroes Lap compulsory?
No. It is optional for every family. Nobody is asked to share medical details to take part in any category.
What does my contribution support?
Registration contributions go towards supporting parents who need NICU care for their preemies. You can add a larger donation at checkout.
Follow us on Instagram.
Share the run with your friends, school and colleagues, and keep up with event details, ambassadors and updates as they come.
Choose a distance. We will meet you on 15 November.
Registration takes place on the official portal. Choose Thane or the virtual run, add a donation if you wish and receive your bib. Convenience fees are extra.