The Brufut Marathon Association yesterday Wednesday held a press conference on the 18th edition of the Brufut Marathon Run slated for 15 December 2012 at the Independence Stadium Conference Hall.
The theme for this year’s Brufut Marathon Run is “running against hunger”.
Mamudou Max Jallow, executive secretary of the National Sports Council and founding member of the Brufut Marathon, said they have targeted 1,000 runners this year from all walks of life, adding that they want to make the event much bigger in participation.
The run is a household name in Brufut and The Gambia as a whole, he said, adding that it is important they echo this year’s theme.
The races to be organised include a 21km, 10km and 5km male and female run, a 1.5km fun run and a 0.5km kids race.
The special event, he said, will entertain attendees with fun and meaningful programmes.
Concluding his remarks, Max urged those who are fit and healthy to participate in the event and also commended the people of Brufut.
Ba S. Jabbi, chairman of the Brufut Marathon Run, said: “The event nicknamed today as the Brufut Run started in 1994 through the enthusiasm of several passionate Gambian runners who decided to support their community through sport, primarily by mobilizing resources for assisting women horticulturalists in the purchase of seedlings and fertilizers.”
He added: “Ever since, the run is themed in such a way as to bear on the socio-economic welfare of the Brufut community and increase public awareness of key development issues relevant for the country as a whole.
“There has been a run against the spread of HIV/Aids, deforestation, malaria, illegal migration, drugs and alcohol abuse; for a clean environment, accelerated industrial development or education.
“Since 2010 the event was themed as the Run against Hunger to raise awareness of chronic food insecurity in The Gambia and re-echo the national call for self-sufficiency.”
Mr Jabbi also said the event is a platform to give people with the interest of long distance running the opportunity.
The winner of the female marathon last year, Hoja Secka, will be given a free air ticket to participating in the Luton Marathon to be held in England in October, he said
Registration will begin August 1st and end on 31st October, he said, adding that those who are interested in participating should go to either of these registration points: the Gambia Daily, the Daily Observer, The Point Newspaper, Daily Newspaper, West Coast Radio, Terenga FM, Unique FM, Capital FM, Brikama FMB and the National Sports Council.
Lamin Cham, chairman of the conference, who is also a founding member of the Brufut Marathon Run, said the event is one of the most organised events annually, adding that the event has become bigger and much professional compared to the previous years.
The event should now come of age after being staged for 18 years, he said, adding that by 2015 they intend to make it a full marathon.
He said further that they would partner with stakeholders to make the Brufut Marathon Run a success with future in
They want to make the Brufut Marathon Run an African brand, he said.
