The GAPCO disabled 10km event, which is part of the Kilimanjaro Marathon, is once again expected to be highly competitive and thrilling due to its attractive prizes and other incentives offered by the sponsor to winners and all participants in the category.
The event is only open to the wheelchair and hand cycle/tricycle disabled athletes. GAPCO Marketing Manager, Caroline Kakwezi, said in a statement that GAPCO, in collaboration with Network 21 of South Africa, will donate 20 brand new wheelchairs to the first 20 finishers and a total of 7.8m/- to be awarded to the 1st to 10th placed winners.
First winners in all three categories men’s regular wheelchair, combined men and women’s hand cycle and tricycle and women’s regular wheelchair will pocket 500,000/- each, while the first and second runners- up will each bag in 400,000/ and 300,000/- respectively.
“We are donating the wheelchairs as a way of enriching the lives of people with disabilities, particularly to ease their movement in their daily activities,” she said.
“In order to encourage more disabled athletes to participate, GAPCO will also provide a token of 10,000/- to every participant who will finish the race as well as T-shirts and other spot prizes,” she added.
Kakwezi said having been sponsoring the disabled race from 2011, GAPCO will also offer free transport to and from Moshi for interested participants who are based in Dar es Salaam and added that the disabled athletes will not be charged registration fee.
She said GAPCO would like to see more disabled athletes showing up to take part in the race and that prizes have been improved to attract more participants, boost morale, create an exciting event and raise the competitive spirit among the disabled athletes.
“The disabled 10km event is growing every year in terms of popularity, participation and competitiveness and this is proof that persons with disabilities not only have the full potential to take on such ordeals, but can achieve it if they set their hearts to it,” commented Kakwezi.
She added: “We are honoured as sponsors to be able to give back to the community and none are more deserving than the disabled who face challenges every day.
“Our athletes are a prime example of what can be achieved in life through sheer determination. We share with them the passion to succeed.”
Courtesy of in2eastafrica.net