Registration for 2015 First Lady marathon begins

Registration for the 2015 First Lady Half Marathon has kicked off in Nairobi and Mombasa with calls from First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to support the purchase of 27 more clinics.

On March 9, Margaret ran the first half marathon to help raise awareness and resources for the Beyond Zero campaign in Nairobi.

The initiative is aimed at stopping new HIV infections among children and to improve mothers' lives.

According to the Government, in 2013 an estimated 9,400 babies were born with HIV in the country while HIV-related complications accounted for 15 per cent of all deaths among children under the age of five in the same year.

Next year's marathon, to be held on March 8 in Nairobi, targets to host an estimated 50,000 participants. "This follows the success of its inaugural marathon which was held early this year which drew nearly 20,000 participants," read a statement to newsrooms yesterday.

Cabinet secretaries, MPs, governors and their spouses, professional athletes, diplomatic corps and UN representatives took part in the marathon.

Margaret also participated in the London Marathon in April covering 41km and breaking the record as a first lady.

Next year she is to encourage Kenyans to take better care of their health through physical engagements and conscious eating, the statement said.

The statement also added that registration for the marathon is ongoing at various Nakumatt and Uchumi supermarkets in the two counties for Sh1,500 per person or the website www.beyondzero.or.ke.