Safaricom Marathon targets Kshs 60m for wildlife

MOBILE

Safaricom has kicked off registration for this year’s Safaricom Marathon scheduled to take place on June 29th 2013 at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Registration for the Marathon now in its 14th year will close on 10th of May with participants taking part in the 21km half marathon, 42km full marathon and 5km races. 

This year’s event dubbed “Run for the Wild” is taking place on the back of an alarming dwindling of wildlife numbers in the country, due to runaway poaching activities in national parks across the country. In particular, there has been a marked increase of elephant poaching in the last 24 months which reached a crescendo with the massacre of a family of 12 elephants in a remote part of the Tsavo East National Park early this year.

“Poachers are willing to walk for days in hostile terrain in order to kill elephants for their tusks. I am sharing this story with you to show you how determined these criminals are to get what they want. You and I will therefore have to double our efforts to protect our wild life with as much if not more determination,” said Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore.  

A breakdown of funds raise last year shows that, education and healthcare projects got Kshs. 5.46 million and 3.78 million respectively whereas a further 35% of the revenue was invested in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy which is home to a variety of large African wildlife to include lions, elephants, rhinoceros, and the Cape buffalo. 

“The Safaricom Marathon has earned a reputation for being one of the toughest endurance races in the world – last year attracting some 1,200 runners which included over 35 nationalities. More importantly, the event has also become one of Kenya’s greatest fundraising initiatives,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Tusk Trust, Charlie Mayhew. 

Registration forms are available on the Safaricom Marathon website. http://www.safaricom.co.ke/safaricommarathon/