Standarad Chartered marathon: Nairobi Marathon raises 23m for charity project

By ERICK OCHIENG’

On October 27 many people run through the streets of Nairobi for a noble cause, to raise funds towards eradication of avoidable blindness during the 11th edition of the Standarad Chartered Nairobi International marathon.

Two athletes, Kenneth Mung’ara and Winfridah Kwamboka, won the Sh1.5 million prize each, but most important was the organisers ability to raise Sh23 million for their charity programme, Seeing is Believing.

This is Sh2 million more than what was realised last year. This year also saw the increase of number of participants by 1,000 to 22,000 from 55 nationalities.

The announcement was made by the race Local Organising Committee on Tuesday where sponsors and other  stakeholders who contributed to the successful realisation of the marathon were honored.

“This year Nairobi International Marathon attracted over 22,000 participants and was able to raise Sh23,097,666 million up from Sh21 million in 2012 through registration fees and donations.

“The funds will go towards supporting the Kenya chapter of the Seeing is Believing East Africa Child Eye Health projects,” said Richard Etemesi, the Standard Chartered Bank’s Chief Executive Officer.

Eight-year-old Hannah Thuo of Cavina School was given special mention for going out of her way to raise the highest individual contribution of Sh98,750 to support the Seeing is Believing programme.

The Standard Chartered Group also said it will donate Sh160 million over the next five years to the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust that funds eyecare projects in Africa and India.

“In Africa, these funds will be used to support a blinding trachoma programme in five countries — Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Nigeria. The programme will reach an estimated 3.6 million people in Kenya where trachoma is the second leading cause of avoidable blindness with about seven million people at risk,” said Etemesi.

Sponsors honoured for making the marathon successful include Capital FM, G4S, Majestic Printers, Alphine Coolers, Cellulant Kenya, PesaPal, Liquid Telcom,  Jubilee Insurance, AAR, Nakumatt Holdings, Subaru Kenya, Parapet Group and Greenplast International.

Schools were also honoured for their contribution through the ‘Run with Henry’ programme. They included Cavina, Peponi, Makini, International School of Kenya, Hillcrest, Aga Khan, Rusinga and Gems International.