#Sports

Big Dreams opens registration for memorial marathon, walk-a-thon for ‘back-way’ victims

Feb 14, 2024, 12:06 PM | Article By: Cherno Omar Bobb

Big Dreams Gambia in partnership with Big Dreams Inc has announced the opening of registration for its planned 5 and 10 kilometres marathon run and walk-a-thon.

It announced that the registration fee for the 5-kilometer walkathon is pegged at D300.

The registration fee for the 5-kilometer run is D 400.

The registration fee for the 10-kilometer run is pegged at D450.

The winner for the 10-kilometer will receive D5000, while second place will pocket D3000 and the third-place holder will receive D1500.

The winner for the 5-kilometer run will receive D3000, while second and third place holders will receive D1500 and D1000 respectively.

All participants will receive a free T-Shirt.

The 5 and 10 kilometres marathon run and walk-a-thon open for all interested groups and individuals is set to take place on 17th February 2024 at the New Bakau Public Park.

The marathon run is organised to mourn love ones who tragically lost their lives trying to reach Europe through the ‘back-way’ in pursuit of a better life.

Back-way migration has become a national tragedy and it must be addressed.

According to organisers: “Words cannot express the tremendous grief our nation has experienced over the tragedy of the past few months. As a community and a nation, we are stunned.”

The non-profit organisation commended the heroic actions and courage of The Gambia Immigration officers and Navy of the neighbouring countries such as Senegal and Mauritania for their help in intercepting some of the smugglers’ boats and ensuring victims’ safety.

Barack Obama once said that: ‘Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.’