03 Mar 2025

More than 300 children turned-up for the Absa Summer Kid Marathon activation event in Maun over the weekend, which was more than double the number of 150 children anticipated by organisers.

“We were amazed by the large numbers in Maun and this is an indication that we are on the right track and we should bring more sport activities for young people, including children, to enjoy the tourism hub as well as to promote fitness, health habits at a young age,” event organiser Martin Fani said. 

Fani said the activation event, which attracted children aged between six and 16 years, was a good initiative which would create lasting memories on children and inspire them to do engage in fitness activities. The activation was part of a nationwide tour aimed to give children around the country a glimpse of the main marathon billed for Gaborone on April 26 as well as to inspire them to embrace fitness and health as a lifestyle.

Participants were treated to aerobics sessions, short runs and health focused activities. Fani said they were not only promoting fun and socialisation through the event, but also focussed on broad range of health benefits such as combating non-communicable diseases.

He said many people appreciated the importance of the marathon and were calling for it to held in their areas. However, he said they had no capacity to do so, and had therefore embarked on activations across the country to give children an opportunity to experience the initiative.

Fani said in future, they would do the marathon series in different areas such as Maun and Francistown to leave a legacy. He said their target was to reach 5 000 children in every place they would be visiting next year when they would be celebrating the fifth anniversary of the marathon.

He thanked the main sponsor Absa Bank and all who contributed to make the activity a success. ENDS