DOUBLE JOY IN YELLOW EPILEPSY MARATHON

MBABANE - The purse for the ninth edition of the Yellow Epilepsy Charity Half Marathon has now more than doubled.

During a media event held at Pizza Inn, in Mbabane yesterday, Abraham Ntshalintshali, the Director of Operations at the Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation (EEO), made an exciting announcement regarding the forthcoming Yellow Epilepsy Charity Half Marathon. He disclosed that the prize money for the event would exceed double the amount awarded in prior

Breakdown

According to the prize-breakdown shared by the EEO, the male and female champions of the 21km race will each receive E5 000, an increase from E2 000 in the previous edition.
“I am delighted to announce that the ninth Yellow Epilepsy Charity Half Marathon is set to be the most significant event we have ever organised. “The prizes for certain categories have been raised substantially, making this year’s race an exciting  opportunity for runners and a crucial step towards raising awareness for epilepsy. “With the winning prize for the 21km race now established at E5 000, we anticipate a fiercely-competitive atmosphere,” he remarked.

The director shared that the organisation aims to attract 1 500 runners to participate in the ninth iteration of the Yellow Epilepsy Charity Half Marathon. Ntshalintshali highlighted that the purpose of this event is not solely to draw elite runners, but also to elevate awareness about the impact of epilepsy on individuals and families, as well as to promote research leading to improved treatment options.

“We are referring to registered athletes, and we are not including all those who come for aerobics and those who come to support this wonderful event,” he added. Ntshalintshali announced that the race will take place on February 1, 2025, commencing and concluding at the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) offices, located at Lobamba, near Somhlolo National Stadium. The race is scheduled to begin at 6am and will feature three categories: 21km, 10km, and 5km. Registration fees are set at E200 for the main race, E170 for the 10km, and E140 for the 5km.

Attracted

The previous edition in 2023 attracted approximately 500 participants, while this year saw around 800. The target for the upcoming event is to exceed 1 500 participants. Beyond promoting healthy living, the primary aim is to raise funds for individuals living with epilepsy, ensuring that children in care receive essential medication and are able to attend school. The race will commence at the EOCGA offices, proceeding past the Lobamba Police Station, through Mashibhini, Mahlanya, Lozitha and along the Elangeni route, before returning to the starting point.

Both the 10km and 5km races will utilise the Elangeni route. Ntshalintshali has urged companies to contribute, as numerous resources are required to host a race, including water stations, T-shirts and race packs.He announced that this event will become annual, stating: “It will be a fixed calendar event in the first week of February each year.” Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) athlete Melusi Khumalo and His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Athletic Club road queen Thobile Ngwenyama both emerged victorious during the last edition of the race in February, each receiving E2 000.

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