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The annual Safaricom marathon wants to raise USD 1 million this year
The marathon is set for 29th June. This year Safaricom in conjunction with Tusk Trust and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy seek to raise USD 1 million at the 20th edition of the marathon.
Since its inception, the annual marathon has raised over KSh 750 million which has gone into wildlife conservation, construction and equipping of schools, provision of equipment at health facilities and engaging in sustainable harvest and use of water.
The partnership between Safaricom, Tusk and Lewa have over the years positively impacted communities and wildlife from Mount Kenya to the coast – across two world heritage sites – protecting species as large as the elephant and as small as a baby turtle.
“Over the last 19 editions, we have seen Marathon in Lewa transform the lives of the communities it serves. It has given them access to health, clean water and education, and we are motivated to continue supporting the marathon because we have seen its impact over 500,000 lives that are touched through the various initiatives,” said Charles Wanjohi, Safaricom’s Director of the Consumer Business Unit.
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As it marks its 20thEdition, the marathon seeks to raise KSh 100 million, 20 times the amount it raised in the year 2000.
The Marathon will have three categories of runners; 5km children’s fun race for children aged 10 to 17 years, the 21 km half marathon which will include team races and the 42km full marathon.
“We’re immensely proud of all that has been achieved with this partnership. Thanks to their invaluable support Tusk has made a real difference to the lives of the many thousands of Kenyans living alongside their wildlife. We are particularly proud that the Marathon has become a valuable shop window for Kenya – attracting numerous overseas runners to Lewa each year”, said Tusk CEO Charlie Mayhew.
The Marathon has also enabled the education of over 10,000 children, while 40,000 people now have access to healthcare and 50,000 people annually benefit from agroforestry, irrigation and infrastructure initiatives.
“We are grateful to Safaricom for supporting us since we started the Marathon 20 years ago. We have seen the communities around Isiolo, Laikipia and Meru grow as a result of the money raised from the Marathon. In the last few years we have expanded to support projects in Northern Kenya and the Coast,” said Mike Watson, CEO, Lewa Conservancy.
Registration opens on 27th February 2019 via Marathon.
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