First Lady targets 70,000 this year in run for improved health

 

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta displays her T-Shirt after registering for the First Lady's Half Marathon on January 26, 2016 at State House Nairobi. PHOTO | COURTESY 

By SANDRA CHAO-BLASTO, schao@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• The Beyond Zero campaign has raised Sh540 million and wants to raise more to set up mobile clinics in the remaining 11 counties.

First lady Margret Kenyatta has launched the third round of the first lady half marathon in a bid to raise funds to set up mobile clinics in the remaining 11 counties.

The marathon, which takes place annually in March, is an avenue through which Ms Kenyatta uses the 21km, 5km and 2km runs to improve healthcare access across the country.

This year, the marathon is targeting a total of 70,000 participants, which is 20,000 more than the 50,000 who took part in the race last year.

“Our focus, must be to pull together innovative ideas and approaches; introduce smarter, scalable and sustainable models, to address the deplorable high numbers of maternal and child deaths in this country,” she said during the launch.

The Beyond Zero campaign has raised Sh540 million besides receiving donations in kind of medical equipment and kits.

READ: You should start preparing for the marathons now