The 4th Edition of the Love4Gambia Run, a Nova Scotia-Gambia Association fund-raising project ended yesterday in Banjul.
The 424-kilometer run stated from Koina on June 8th and ended in Banjul on Thursday 26th June 2014.
Terry SanCartier, a marathon runner from Nova Scotia, Canada, and three other Gambians (Pa Modou Sarr, Dodou Bah and Yankuba Bojang) featured in the run that took 19 days.
Speaking yesterday at the Nova Scotia-Gambia Association at a ceremony marking the end of the run, Abdou A. Kanteh, the program manager NSGA, said Love4Gambia Run was the brain-child of a Canadian citizen from the province of Nova Scotia, who saw the need to raise funds for the organisation to continue implementing its projects in The Gambia.
He recalled that the run started on 8th June in Koina Upper River Region and ended on 26th June 2014 in Banjul the capital city.
The event was advertised in the whole of Canada.
Love4Gambia Run had raised a significant amount of money in the past, and this year raised about 14,000 Canadian dollars.
Love4Gambia Run will soon be a house-hole name both in Canada and The Gambia, Mr Kanteh said.
Kanteh took time to recognise the immense contribution and sacrifice made against all odds by the 2014 run team, to make sure the run happened.
He also expressed appreciation to the Canadian diplomat in The Gambia who hosted a runner.
He went on to thank their partners and associates, well-wishers and everyone that has contributed to the success of the run.
Kanteh described the event as important to them, and that it was a success.
Terry SanCartier, lead runner from Nova Scotia, Canada, said it took months of training, fund-raising but was pleased with how things went.
They had a lot of fun on the road with a little competition every day, he added. The reason he wanted to do this was because he had always wanted to do something to help people, he said.
“I help people back home by participating in many things”. This time, he wanted to do something outside Canada.
He will still be around to help, he said, while expressing delight for being part of the event.
There was no time during the run when he felt he could not complete it; the toughest part was the heat of the sun, he revealed.
Pa Modou Sarr, who has participated in all editions of the run, in his closing remark said the amazing thing about the run was the love that has been shown to participants on the road, over the years.
He thanked the person who initiated the run, as well as Terry SanCartier; adding: “It was not easy running from Koina to Banjul”.
Yankuba Bojang, who also participated in the run, said this was his first time participating in the race, but he will love to continue doing so. Running with runners like Terry motivated him, he added.
Certificates were awarded to all the runners, Terry SanCantier, Yankuba Bojang, Pa Modou Sarr and Dodou Bah.
