StanChart Awards Marathon Winners, Donates Ksh 43 Million To Community Initiatives

By Soko Directory Team / Published March 1, 2024 | 7:44 am

Standard Chartered has today awarded top athletes who participated in the 20^th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon in October 2023.

The prize money has been released to the contestants following rigorous checks and certifications by various global athletic bodies, as well as the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

This is in line with the fact that the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon last year received the World Athletic Accreditation as a World Road Race. The organizing committee is now working closely with World Athletics, Athletics Kenya, and other sporting partners to attain an ‘Elite’ Label and climb further up in the marathon World Athletics rankings.

“Our certifications are a testament to our promise to ensure we create an event that allows locally grown talent to have their times recognized at a global level,” said Joyce Kibe, Head, of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered.

During the event, Standard Chartered also handed over a cheque worth KES 43,167,506 million comprising money raised from the Marathon to the Futuremakers initiative. The funds will support community impact initiatives, focusing on five projects across three pillars: Education, Employability, and Entrepreneurship.

Futuremakers by Standard Chartered is focused on breaking down barriers to opportunity and empowering the next generation to make meaningful contributions to the world around them.

Before it engaged with Futuremakers, the Marathon supported Seeing is Believing, funding initiatives designed to tackle avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

Alphonse Kigen and Evaline Chirchir, who emerged as winners of the 42 Kilometers individual men and women categories in the 20^th edition of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon received KES 2 million each, while other contestants will win varying amounts of cash according to their race classification.

Over 73 elite athletes, 200 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and over 20,000 recreational runners participated in the Marathon. The Marathon was attended by over 22,000 participants.

The Marathon featured six race categories: 42km for men and women, 21km for men and women, 10km for men and women, 21km for wheelchair men and women, 5km Family Fun Run race, and the Corporate Relay Challenge.

“We congratulate Standard Chartered Bank Kenya for the progress and development of the marathon to a world Athletics label race. The marathon has been the launching pad for thousands of our young athletes and with label status, the benefits to the athletes have been further enhanced,” said Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei, President, of Athletics Kenya.

Athletics Kenya said it would continue to work with the bank to develop the Marathon further in terms of organization standards, enhanced technical requirements, and sustainability.

While recognizing the importance of building an event that can bolster professional Kenyan athletes, Standard Chartered also took the opportunity to recognize Peninah Kalondu, a lay participant who resolved to complete the 42 km race, finishing in just over seven hours (7:29:30).

“We believe in supporting all our runners from their start to their finish and we celebrate her tenacity and resilience to finishing the race,” said Ms. Kibe.

All proceeds from the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon are channeled towards Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, an initiative where the bank is working with disadvantaged young people – especially girls and persons with disabilities to gain new skills and expertise to improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business.

Futuremakers empowers the next generation to learn, earn, and grow by focusing on education, employability, and entrepreneurship.

About Soko Directory Team

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

View other posts by Soko Directory Team