By Zainab Joaque
Osman Charlie, the winner of the 2014 Sierra Leone Marathon, has said that he ran for his fellow street kids, and that he was able to feed off the crowd’s energy as they chanted his name.
When Information and Communication Minister Alpha Kanu handed him the trophy, Charlie said “I have won for the kids in the street, having also grown up in the street and fending for myself, I want to give back everything I have for them.”
Africell’s Nancy Joseph pledged her company’s commitment and support to the cause, which she said they will continue to do more to make it better than this year’s.
Tom Dannet, Founder and Director of Street Child, the organization which empowers children through education, said that the sole purpose for the marathon was to raise funds for the children in the streets and to place them in homes or schools.
“Most of the international runners have already raised some funds from their countries for them, they are here because it has to do with kids” he said.
The opening of the marathon was done by the Mayor of Makeni Sunkarie Kabba-Kamara. She thanked the international guests for supporting the children of Sierra Leone. “The funds will go to support street children, and we are grateful to have Street Child help in complementing the effort of government to ensure that every child on the street is cared for” said the Mayor.
Politico Newspaper Editor, Umaru Fofana, who took part in the 5kilometer run, described the race as interestingly breathtaking and a fantastic showpiece. He promised to back for the 2015 run, as he was proud to be part of it for the purpose of raising funds for kids and to keep fit.
“I am going to be an ambassador for this marathon as I want to change the attitude towards kids” Fofana said.
The marathon attracted about 500 Sierra Leoneans and 200 international runners who came from Spain, Holland, United Kingdom, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Gambia, Liberia, France, United States of America and Senegal.
WINNERS
5kilometers
Female
1. Aisha Kargbo
2. Marie Conteh
3. Hawa Mansaray
Male
1. Bilal Tarawalie
2. Ansumana Ansu Momoh
3. Joseph Bangura
10kilometers
Female
1. Posseh Bangura
2. Fatmata Kargbo
3. Roseline Koroma
Male
1. Mohamed B. Koroma
2. Abu Kamanda
3. Mohamed Mansaray
Village Competition
Female
1. Ramatu Bangura- Kerefay Village
2. Isata Kamara- Yoni Village
3. Mariatu Koroma- Masimera Village
Male
1. Issa Sesay - Mange Loko Village
2. Mark Sesay- Masimera Village
3. Moses Kargbo- Mabanta Village
Half Marathon
Female
1. Fatmata Suluku& Fatmata B. Sesay
2. Horatia Williams
3. Adama Kamara
Male
1. Augustine ShekuMomoh
2. Sahr Samuel Brima
3. Samuel Sesay
Full Marathon
Female
1. Adama Kamara
2. Victoria Bestman
3. Sallay Hassan Koroma
Male
1. Osman Charlie
2. Idrissa Kargbo
3. Banjor E. Musa
(C) Politico 27/05/14
