Kenya Airways sponsors Masai Mara Marathon

7 Sep 2012

Kenya Airways has taken headline sponsorship of the annual Masai Mara Marathon which will take place on 22 September across the picturesque plains of The Mara in Kenya. Bringing issues of education provision in the Lemek Conservancy Community to the fore, this year the popular sporting charity event is expected to see in excess of 3 000 athletes make their way across the Nkilenya Plains in support of this worthy cause.

In line with the airline's corporate social responsibility initiatives, Kenya Airways seeks to work with various communities across Africa to improve educational infrastructure. "Kenya Airways invests in initiatives geared towards supporting communities in the areas of education, environment, water and health as part of its contribution to the sustainable development. A strong educational foundation will also ensure that our young people are appropriately skilled for the demanding job market," says Dr. Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways.

Cash prizes to be won

The inaugural Masai Mara Marathon was first held in 2009 with 352 runners participating across the 5km fun run and 21km half marathon categories. With the incredible growth the marathon has witnessed in the past four years, the event has become a clear driving force for development in the area.

The KQ Masai Mara Half Marathon aims to raise funds that will be channelled towards conservation of the Mara ecosystem and raise awareness of the plight of the stakeholders within the ecosystem. All proceeds generated by the marathon event will be used to provide education facilities, healthcare support, improvements in sanitation and the provision of clean drinking water to its residents.

Each participating athlete will receive a medal and certificate. Cash prizes are offered to the top ten in each category. Registration for the marathon closes at midnight on 10 September.

Accommodation in conservancy

The KQ Masai Mara Marathon Village located in the Lemek Conservancy has four accommodation options available, namely KQ Simba self-catering camp, Twiga tented campsite, KQ Chui camp and the KQ Premiere world camp.

The legendary Masai Mara National Reserve is largely considered one of Africa's greatest wildlife reserves. The Mara comprises over 320km² of open plains, woodlands and riverine forests and is home to a prolific abundance of wildlife, including the famous big five. Annually, the Mara also bears witness to the great wildebeest migration.

For more information, visit http://kenyaairwaysmarathon.com/