Kenya: Mwea Classic Marathon Out to Raise Sh8 Million

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Muigai Kiguru

13 July 2011

THE annual Mwea Classic Marathon is targeting to raise Sh8 million during this year’s edition set for September 10 at the Mwea Secondary School.

Nderitu Wachira, chairman of the local organising committee, said the proceeds of the event will go towards the usual initiative of supporting the 26 deserving schools in the locality.

“In our last edition, we manage to equip 20 secondary schools with library facilities and we have enlisted six more schools to benefit from this year’s proceeds,” said Wachira. “We realised academic performance in the schools which received book donations has continued to improve and we hope to reach out to more schools.”

Wachira was speaking at a Nairobi hotel yesterday when the event received a Sh250,000 boost from Kenya Airports Authority to help in the organisation of the event. Wachira said they will also venture into helping the non-schooling youth to change their lifestyles which is characterised by drug abuse and other societal vices.

The race secretariat targets to register more than 3,000 runners with a big percentage expected to be drawn from the participating secondary schools. “Just like last year, we are hoping to register a good number of athletes in the full marathon where we also expect an increase in the 21km and 10km family fun run,” said Wachira. The race is open to any interested runners and has a registration deadline is September 1.

Winners in the 42km race will pocket Sh100, 000 in both the men’s and women’s categories with the runners up and third finishers receiving Sh50,000 and Sh25,000 respectively.

The half marathon attracts a sh50,000 cash prize for the winner with the second and third finishers set to get Sh25,000 and Sh10,000 respectively.

Only the top finisher in the 10km race will receive a Sh25, 000 cash award. Apart from the cash prize award, the proceeds of the race will also be used to conduct a leadership/school mentorship program targeting over 40 students drawn from the various schools in the district.

The best two will then attend such a forum in San Diego later in the year.

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