Mumbai, Feb 2 (IANS): Mumbai will once again be playing host to the annual ‘Little Hearts Marathon’ this Feb 8 to raise awareness about preventing cardiac diseases in children, an official statement said here Monday.

It is an annual initiative by ‘Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children’ (BJWHC) in association with ‘Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust’ to help children who are suffering from such illnesses.

The marathon will commence from the Siddhivinayak Temple ground at 8 a.m. Sunday (Feb 8) and will conclude at the Wadia Children's Hospital.

The marathon is expected to have over 10,000 kids coming together to lend a helping hand to the disadvantaged kids, the statement said.

Aditya Thackeray, chief of Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, will flag off the Marathon as chief guest of the event.

Mayor of Mumbai Snehal Ambekar will be the special guest and will boost these kids for the noble cause. They will be accompanied by prominent Bollywood personalities and dignitaries from a variety of fields.

Little Hearts Marathon aims to engage the community in a healthy and fun event, which will help raise funds for setting up a cardiac centre at BJWHC and in turn will reduce the costs and waiting times for cardiac surgeries for the underprivileged kids.

“Today, the unhealthy lifestyle choices that lead to cardiovascular disease often begin in childhood and adolescence, so preventive measures for tackling heart disease must begin at this crucial age. Need of the hour is to promote healthy diet and physical activity amongst the new generation and provide a second chance to children who are already suffering from cardiac diseases,” Minnie Bodhanwala, chief executive officer of BJWHC said.

Last year, over 5,000 children participated in the Marathon along with their parents. Kids who participated last year are thrilled to participate this year again -- as this Marathon is for the children, run by the children and towards the benefit of the children, the statement added.