The 11th edition of the Mozzart Bet Chemususu Dam Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, 14 November, with more than 1,000 participants expected to take part in an event that combines athletics, environmental conservation and community development.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsCompeting under the theme Run To Conserve, this year's edition will feature a 5km fun run, a 10km race and the flagship 21km half marathon. More than 400 competitive athletes are expected to contend, with organisers seeking to strengthen the event's position on Kenya's athletics calendar.Mozzart Bet has committed Ksh4 million towards the event, underlining its continued investment in Kenyan sport and community initiatives.Sabastian Sawe inches closer to World Athletics award as Agnes Ngetich drops outSpeaking during the launch, Mozzart Bet Deputy Country Manager Bojan Korac highlighted the company's commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities it engages with."At Mozzart, we believe our responsibility goes beyond supporting sporting competitions. We are committed to investing in people, creating opportunities and supporting initiatives that deliver lasting benefits to the communities around us," Korac said.The sponsorship will support several initiatives targeting education, healthcare and talent development in the Chemususu community.##NAJAVA_MECA_10088152##At Chemususu Primary School, two classrooms have already been completed, while the school's playing ground has undergone improvements to provide children with a better environment to nurture their sporting talents.Healthcare remains another priority, with 250 elderly women already benefiting from medical cover through the Social Health Authority (SHA). The programme, which initially targeted 50 beneficiaries, is designed to provide coverage over five years.Race Director Matthew Birir, Kenya's 1992 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion, praised Mozzart Bet for its contribution, revealing that the sponsorship helped rescue the event at a difficult moment.Millions Sheila Chepkirui pocketed after winning New York City Marathon"I want to appreciate our sponsors, especially Mozzart Bet. There was a time when we were not going to run the event, but because of Mozzart, we were able to rescue our situation and hold the competition," Birir said.Athletics Kenya Senior Vice President and Competitions Director Paul Mutwii echoed the appreciation, reaffirming the federation's support for the competition and its role in developing grassroots athletics.Environmental conservation will take centre stage, with organisers targeting the planting of 500,000 trees during the current edition, supported by the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).##NAJAVA_MECA_10088166##The initiative will also incorporate fruit trees, providing an additional nutritional benefit to communities while contributing to environmental restoration.Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma, the event's host legislator, highlighted the relationship between changing climatic conditions and the growing need for community health interventions. He also emphasised the importance of investing in education through infrastructure development and support for school costs.A community medical clinic will also be held as part of this year's activities, complementing the ongoing healthcare programme.Why Eliud Kipchoge believes Dakar Youth Olympics could transform African sportThe competition's prize money has increased, with winners in both the men's and women's 21km categories set to receive Ksh300,000, up from Ksh250,000. The 10th-place finishers will each receive Ksh10,000.Organisers have also emphasised financial literacy, encouraging beneficiaries to make informed decisions to ensure that the interventions have sustainable long-term benefits.Health, education, environmental conservation and sporting opportunities will therefore converge at Chemususu on Saturday, 14 November, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale expected to attend as the chief guest.
28