Run Club raises N8.5m through half-marathon

Run Club Abuja, a sports club in FCT, has raised the sum of N8.5 million for a Leprosy Community Health Centre through a charity half-marathon event organised in Abuja.

The ₦8.5m realised during the event has been donated for medical intervention projects to the Alheri Leprosy Colony in Kwali, Abuja.

The Charity Half-Marathon commenced on Saturday at 6:30hrs from the Central Park, Central Business District, Abuja through Wuse 2, to Maitama then back to the Central Park with 400 participants including a 69-year-old woman, Maria Ojo.

Addressing newsmen at the event, the President of Run Club Abuja, Emmanuel Otokpa, said the Charity Half Marathon themed “Lace Up”, targeted to generate ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira), through sponsorship and registrations by participants as part of their way of giving back to society.

“Since we already run to keep fit and to live a healthy lifestyle, we can actually use that same avenue to try and do good to people in our immediate society.

“We are here with our partners, well wishers and people who just want to give back to society through running this race.”

Pabina Yinkere, Head of the Asset Management Team, Norrenberger Group, the headline sponsors of the event described it as a “noble cause” aligning with the vision of the Group, as it aimed to support the Community Health Centre at the Leprosy Colony, hence the partnership.

“As a responsible organisation we also key in to support noble causes such as this. We think everyone deserves the right to healthcare.”

Secretary of the Leprosy Colony, Salihu Aliyu observed that the victims of the disease had faced a variety of challenges including poor healthcare and was thankful for the donation, noting that it will go a long way.