Tanzania: Ngorongoro Half Marathon Attracts 3000 Runners

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

31 March 2011

THE fourth edition of the Ngorongoro Half Marathon dubbed the ‘Race against Malaria will be held on Saturday in Karatu, Arusha region, organizers of the annual event revealed on Thursday.

The mobile phone company, Tigo together with Wellshare International are sponsoring the race that has become an international event in Karatu.

Tigo Public Relations Executive, Jackson Mmbando said in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that his company had injected over 20m/- to bankroll the half marathon race, which is expected to attract over 3000 participants.

“The event is as a lead up to the commemoration of International Malaria Awareness Day set for April 25 in Arusha region and we have invited 189 international runners,” said Mmbando.

“For communities to proactively control this disease there is great need to raise awareness and we think through Ngorongoro Run, we can spread this education to the people of Karatu,” he added.

The race co-ordinator, Innocent Augustino, speaking about the event said: “Individual runners and teams will make their way through one of the beautiful and unique places on earth, from the gates of Ngorongoro Crater to Karatu town.

He commended sponsors of race including Tigo, USAID, Zara Tours Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA).

“This important event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since 2009, Tigo’s commitment to the health and well being of the people of Tanzania has been demonstrated through their generous support of this event.

They are the foundation on which this marathon is built,” he said. Zara Tours has been an invaluable sponsor since the race inception in 2008.

In 2010 Zara created and became sole sponsor of the ‘Ngorongoro Run: Kids’ Fun Run’, an activity that expanded the impact of the marathon. Augostino revealed that more than 5,000 residents of Karatu district enjoyed the festivities and learned life saving information about malaria during the previous event.

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