13 Feb 2025

The ABSA Summer Kids Marathon makes its return with the fourth edition scheduled to take place on April 26 at Three Dikgosi Monument at Central Business District, in Gaborone.

The event coordinator, Moagi Madisa, has assured participants and spectators to expect a sensational event this time around.

“All what we want is to host a complaint and injury free event. Our preparations began last year September with an Independence Activation aimed at re-engaging the kids after a long break,” said Madisa.

He said it was incredibly heartwarming to see children proudly wearing national colours teemed with euphoria. Madisa said their enthusiasm reinforced  their belief in the initiative and motivated  them to deliver an exceptional experience. He said this year’s event will be prepared and promoted, thanks to an array of stakeholders.

The upcoming activation event will be in Gaborone tommorow while the Palapye event is slated for February 22. Maun will host the activation session on March 1 and the Francistown activation event has been scheduled for March 15.

Letlhakane will host the activation show on March 22 while the activation comes back to Gaborone on March 29 before it heads to Jwaneng on April 5.

The last activation is set for Gaborone on April 12, just a fortnight before the main event and Madisa explained that this would serve as way to give the kids around the country a glimpse of what the marathon is about. His view was that such activations would also give an exposure to sponsors.

Madisa outlined this year’s theme, ‘Forever young and active,’ and further added that the theme was a call to encourage children to embrace fitness and health from a tender age while staying active in all aspects of their lives, be it school, home or playing.

“We also wanted to instill a mindset of confidence and vitality, reinforcing an old Tswana proverb which goes, ‘Go tsofala yo o ratang,’ which connotes that regardless of age you can still keep fit and active. It is a message that resonates with everyone, and we are proud to bring it to life for the kids,” Madisa enunciated.

He revealed that the response has been phenomenal, singling out the way the early bird tickets, which closed by December 2024, sold like fat cakes.

“The ticket sales surpassed the initial target of 150 kids by registering 263 kids. This overwhelming turnout shows the trust parents have in our marathon. Standard registration is now open at P250 per child, which includes a running t-shirt, goody bag, medal, and hydration kit. We are confident that tickets will be sold out before the set deadline of March 31st," he said.

He therefore encouraged parents to register early to avoid the 11th hour haste usually ridden with challenges of scarcity of merchandise such as t-shirts sizes and medals.

Madisa emphasised that this time around there will be no late intakes and they have put an immense effort into making this year’s episode memorable.

He said they have engaged a professional venue planner to ensure a spacious, well-organised layout, adding that the logistics team was also working ahead of schedule to secure quality medals, t-shirts, and other essentials.

  Additionally, Madisa said they were incorporating clean up campaigns and extracurricular activities to make these activations impactful and fun.  He said they were also expanding their merchandise options to include items like pairs of shorts, tight fits, socks and bucket hats.

“We are focusing on corporate social responsibility. In the previous year, we donated sportswear and shoes to pupils of Kareng Primary School located in a remote expanse called Kareng hamlet, which in the Northwest District. This year, we plan to identify more deserving beneficiaries and leave a positive mark in every region we would pick,” Madisa guaranteed.

He noted that for the past episodes, the ball was kept rolling through the aid of their time-honoured partners such as ABSA Bank, the Ministry of Sport and Arts, Okavango Diamond Company, Khumo Properties and Assert Management, Botswana Insurance Company and other stakeholders who have been there from their humble beginnings.

 The categories that will partake in the event includes the toddlers’ category of two to four years who will embark on a walkathon, the five to eight years’ category who will run 2.5km distance, the teenagers’ category of 13-16 years who will take on 5.5km.

There will also be a slot for the special needs who will be spoilt for choice across the aforementioned distances. Madisa has estimated the activation to bring together about 1500 kids to the grand finale. ENDS