Entries for Lewa race restricted

Organisers of the unique Safaricom Lewa Marathon, that will be celebrating its 15th anniversary on June 28 this year, have restricted entries to 1200.

Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said the restriction is for better organisation besides ensuring that the environment at Lewa Conversancy is well preserved and protected.

“I am calling for participants to register early enough so that they don’t miss out,” said Collymore.

Registration started Tuesday and is going on online on Safaricom website with Collymore saying that it will close immediately the numbers required have been attained.

Entry fee in both the full marathon (42km) and half marathon (21km) races is Sh15, 000 per participant where Sh5, 000 is entry fee and Sh10,000 for donation towards charity.

Corporates intending to field teams at the event will be required to have 10 participants with an entry fee of Sh150, 000.

Mr Collymore said they intend to raise Sh50m for charity this year up from Sh36m raised last year.

He disclosed that each winner in men and women races in full and half marathons will pocket Sh150,000 in a prize scheme that trickles down to top five finishers.

“What we have been aiming at is not the quality of those elite runners in the races but the impact the race will leave from funds collected to help the communities and conserving the environment,” explained Collymore “We want to encourage people to participate at the event as a social event and not hard contest.”

He disclosed that they have raised over Sh356m over the years which have gone to several community projects in education, health care, economic empowerment and wildlife conservation.

Safaricom would further unveil their renewed three-year deal for the event to a tune of ShSh1m that was handed over to the organisers who include Tusk Trust, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Safaricom target

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tusk Trust, Charlie Mayhew, said one of the biggest challenges that the conservancy still faces is poaching which has put unprecedented pressure on resources.

“Last year in December we lost two Rhinos to poachers and we have since intensified efforts to weed out poachers. We are working closely with the communities to ensure the vice is alleviated once and for all,” said Mayhew. “We are grateful to our partners that 15 years down the line, the Lewa conservancy still stands as one of the most iconic tourist attractions.”

Philemon Baaru from Nyeri made history by becoming the first athlete to retain the title last year, taking it in a time of 2:20:50. In the women’s category, Fridah Lodepa clinched the honours in 2:48:41 beating Regina Cherotich who breast the tape in 2:50:13

The Lewa Community Development has established six-community forestry programmes, given 15,000 people access to clean water, rehabilitated 65 kilometers of roads and built 4 Government hospitals and 3 clinics in at least 3 counties.

The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has supported game scout operations to protect conservancy's 100 plus rhinos. It has provided solar water heaters to senior staff to reduce carbon footprint and provided drugs and equipment needed for resident vet.

The Lewa Education Programme supports 10 Primary Schools and 3 Secondary Schools helping over 5,000 children. In addition it has constructed classrooms, fences, libraries, staff houses, and supplied furniture, desks and other educational materials.

Northern Rangelands Trust supports 11 communities with over 50,000 people of diverse ethnicities across northern Kenya. The Mt. Kenya Trust supports the Elephant Corridor Game Guards, as well as the Animal Protection Unit.