Runners club organises charity marathon
Joggers on the Move (JoM), a running group in Lilongwe, has organised a charity marathon to raise K3 million for Dowa District Hospital.
During a press briefing yesterday in Lilongwe, organising chairperson Jayne Nyirenda said the 42-kilometre (km) marathon will start from Kanengo in Lilongwe, taking a stretch of Salima Road then turning to Dowa Road Turn-off Total Filling Station where the race will end.
Participants will also have an option to run 21km or 30km.
She said the money to be raised will be used to buy heavy duty aprons, disposable aprons, heavy duty gloves, bin liners, wasters, electronic suction machine and chlorine for theatre and maternity wards at the hospital.
“The idea to donate to Dowa District Hospital was arrived at in consultation with officials from the hospital, who recommended that the items are very essential for daily operations,” said Nyirenda.
She said each participant will have to pay a minimum fee of K10 000 and 50 runners will be allowed in keeping with the Covid-19 preventive measures.
“Companies and individuals have already come in to support, including main sponsors such as Sunbird Hotel, Medical Aid of Malawi, Cool Drop, FD Communications and Shamrock. But we need more sponsors to reach our K3 million target,” said Nyirenda.
Businessperson Ali Cassim has hailed the initiative, saying apart from promoting the health of the participants it is for a good cause.
“It’s brilliant the way organisations and individuals now are using sports to raise money. The participants will benefit healthwise while on the other hand Dowa Hospital will get protective gear,” he said.
Nyirenda said the group has 64 active members agedbetween 25 and 60, the majority of whom are professionals working in different sectors in Lilongwe.
Joggers on the Move was founded in 2018 to promote recreational running in Lilongwe and enhance unity among the members
