Charity Half-marathon: Abuja club raises N8.5m for leprosy community health centre

At least a sum of ₦8.5 million has been donated for medical intervention projects to the Alheri Leprosy Colony in Kwali, Abuja through a charity half-marathon event organised by Run Club, Abuja.

President of the Club, Emmanuel Blaze Otokpa, while addressing journalists at the event, said the Charity Half Marathon themed “Lace Up”, targeted to generate ₦10 million through sponsorship and registrations by participants as part of giving back to society.

Otokpa added that the marathon focused on a specific humanitarian purpose of which the Leprosy Colony was selected to be a beneficiary for 2024’s edition.

“Since we already run to keep fit and to live a healthy lifestyle, we can actually use that same avenue to try and do good to people in our immediate society. We are here with our partners, well wishers and people who just want to give back to society through running this race,” he told Sporting Tribune.

Chairman, local organising community (LOC), Aworinde Ola-Tokunbo, described the event as a success saying annually the Club had generated more funds annually for humanitarian course;  ₦2 million in 2021, ₦3.2 million in 2022, ₦5 million in 2023 and the ₦10,000,000 target for 2024.

Head, asset management team, Norrenberger Group,  the headline sponsors of the event, Pabina Yinkere, said the event is a “noble cause” aligning with the vision of the Group, as it aimed to support the Community Health Centre at the Leprosy Colony hence the reason for the partnership.

“As a responsible organisation, we also key in to support noble causes such as this. We think everyone deserves the right to healthcare.”

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Secretary of the Leprosy Colony, Salihu Aliyu, stated that the victims of the disease had faced a variety of challenges including poor healthcare and was thankful for the donation, noting that it will go a long way for them.

The half-marathon, which  commenced from the Central Park, Central Business District (CBD) through Wuse 2, to Maitama then back to the Central Park, had 400 participants, including a 69-year-old woman, Maria Ojo.

Ojo, who participated alongside her son, Praise, said she had longed to be part of such humanitarian gesture and felt satisfied fulfilling that desire at the event.