11 Dec 2023

Four primary schools of Monarch, Tatitown, Gulubani and Mahube as well as Francistown Athletics Club (FAC), Boikhutso and Ditladi clinics are beneficiaries of this year’s BTC marathon proceeds.

The successful marathon held in April generated over P198 000 distributed to a number of worthy causes in Francistown and the surrounding areas.

Each got over P38 000 except for the technical partner FAC which got P70 000.

Donating to the beneficiaries at Marang Gardens on Friday, BTC General Manager, Anthony Masunga expressed gratitude to the residents of Francistown for their unwavering support towards the marathon.

He added that the contributions would help to improve the lives of many in the community and make a positive impact in the long run.

“The turnout was overwhelming and humbling, and the company is grateful for the positive response. This was a special moment in BTC’s history, as the event was a resounding success,” he said.

He said the company looked forward to continuing its community activities in Francistown and other surrounding areas and hopes to build upon the success of this event in the future.

Masunga said the issue of copper cable theft was a serious one, and it was great to see that BTC was taking steps to address the problem.

“The replacement of copper cables with fibre optic cables is a smart move, as fibre is more difficult to steal and much less likely to be targeted by vandals. It is a costly investment, but it will likely save the corporation a great deal of money in the long run,” said Masunga.

The donation also saw the launch of the 2024 BTC marathon by Francistown BTC Head of Business Development, Pilot Yane.

Yane said the 2014 BTC marathon was shaping up to be an even bigger event than the previous year, with a number of exciting developments on the horizon.

He also explained that the BTC Foundation’s mandate of promoting sports development would be further supported by the marathon.

“The BTC marathon is a major opportunity for athletes to qualify for the prestigious Comrades Marathon, which is one of the most prestigious ultramarathons,” he added.

Yane said FAC will continue to play a vital role in ensuring that the event adhered to standards.

He explained that with the addition of four new categories, the BTC marathon was taking a big step towards becoming more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of participants.

Yane said the inclusion of the 18-19 year-old category, as well as a 36 and above master’s category, will open up the event to a whole new group of people who may not have been able to participate in the past.

In addition, he said the addition of a wheelchair category was also a major step towards inclusivity, as it would allow individuals with disabilities to take part in the marathon.

“It is clear that the BTC marathon is embracing the latest technology and moving away from traditional, paper-based systems. By going fully digital, the event will be more efficient and streamlined, and it will make it easier for participants to register and track their progress,” he added.

In his welcome remarks, Councillor Morulaganyi Mothowabarwa said the city of Francistown will support the BTC marathon.

“If everyone involved is committed to making the event a success, it can truly be a catalyst for change and improvement,” he added.

Councillor Mothowabarwa implored the organisers of the event to have a mindset change for the project.