First Lady Margaret Kenyatta launches second marathon for Beyond Zero campaign

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Sunday launched the second edition of the 'First Lady’s Half Marathon' at the scenic Karura Forest, targeting to raise Sh 600m for her ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign on March 8, next year.

'Beyond Zero' is a campaign which raises funds to increase access to better healthcare through the provision of mobile clinics to less fortunate Kenyans.

Last year’s 'First Lady’s Half Marathon' raised over Sh 200m which went to the purchase of 20 mobile clinics.

The First Lady disclosed that seven of them have handed over to the county governments of Taita Taveta, Narok, Samburu, Homa Bay, Baringo, Isiolo and Wajir.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta work-out during the launch of First Lady Half Marathon on October 19, 2014 at Karura Forest, Nairobi. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The First Lady said the inaugural race that took place March 9 this year drew 30,000 participants and she targets 50,000 next year.

She is also exploring ways of taking the race outside Nairobi in the near future.

GATHER MOMENTUM

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who kicked off the registration exercise for the second edition shortly before guiding close to 3,000 participants in a 3km fun run, said her initiative has just gathered momentum. Registration is Sh 1,500.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta runs during the official launch of the second edition of the First Lady's Half Marathon at Karura Forest, Nairobi. PHOTO | PSCU

“We still need your good support to purchase 27 more clinics so that our dream of providing one mobile clinic to each of our beautiful country's 47 counties becomes a reality,” said the First Lady.

“Our journey was not easy. It demanded our effort, discipline and will. And thanks to your support, we made it!”

Margaret Kenyatta challenged the County governments to supplement what the campaign has achieved so far.

“One mobile clinic per county is certainly not enough to meet the huge health needs of each county. We need to have more clinics,” explained the First Lady.

The First Lady, who was flanked by Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Wario (Sports), Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs) and James Macharia (Health), advised Kenyans to adopt healthy living lifestyles, such as exercising and eating healthy foods.