Hyderabad, August 2026: The Cure SMA Foundation of India organised the fourth edition of Run for SMA 2026 at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, bringing together SMA families, healthcare professionals, corporates, students, runners and members of the public to raise awareness about Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment and prevention
The Run was graced by Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, as the Chief Guest. Dr. M. Ramesh, Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad; Dr. Radha Rama Devi, Geneticist and Pediatrician, Rainbow Children’s Hospital; Dr. Ashwin Dalal, Head, Diagnostics Division, CDFD; Dr. Giriraj Ratan Chandak, Scientist and CEO, Lightning Lives; Dr. Sivaranjani, Pediatrician; and Ms. Manasa Varanasi, Femina Miss India 2021, joined the event as Guests of Honour and extended their support to the SMA community.
The dignitaries jointly flagged off Run for SMA 2026, marking the beginning of the event with enthusiasm. The run featured 21K, 10K and 5K categories, with strong participation from professional runners, fitness enthusiasts, children living with SMA and their families, who came together in solidarity for the cause.
Speaking to the media, Srilakshmi Nalam, Co-founder and Trustee, Cure SMA India, highlighted the organisation’s journey and the growing need for a comprehensive approach to SMA that brings together treatment, early diagnosis, patient support, inclusion and prevention.
“SMA is not only a medical challenge; it affects every aspect of a family’s life. Today, we have treatments that can change the course of the disease, but time is critical. Delayed diagnosis can result in irreversible loss of muscle function. At the same time, we must look beyond treatment and focus on prevention. Approximately one in 38 individuals is estimated to be an SMA carrier, often without any symptoms or awareness. Genetic carrier screening therefore plays a crucial role in prevention and informed family planning,” she said.
Free SMA Genetic Carrier Screening Programme
A major highlight of this year’s Run for SMA was a free SMA genetic carrier screening programme conducted at the venue for members of the public. The initiative was supported by Dr. Giriraj Ratan Chandak and Lightning Lives, enabling participants to understand their carrier status through a genetic screening test.
Cure SMA India expressed its gratitude to the dignitaries, sponsors, healthcare professionals, volunteers, participants, SMA families and supporters whose collective efforts contributed to the success of the fourth edition of Run for SMA and strengthened the call for greater awareness, early diagnosis, timely treatment and prevention of SMA.
