The Okavango Half Marathon 5K Fun Run/Walk and Health Expo will take place in Shakawe on the 30th of March 2013. The project is promoting healthy lifestyles and raising funds to purchase a mobile clinic to deliver primary care services in the greater Shakawe community.
To raise awareness of their need for increased access to health services, Shakawe residents teamed up with US Peace Corps Volunteers and The Trust for Okavango Cultural and Development Initiatives TOCaDI. Together, the groups are working to address a serious community need. Peace Corps Volunteers around the country are organizing community groups from Maun to Pandamatenga to get healthy by training for and participating in the event.
As part of fundraising, Shakawe residents participating in the marathon will pay a registration fee of P50 and non-residents P100. Participants taking part will receive a goodie bag with t-shirt, drinks and snacks and stand a chance of winning a substantial cash price.
“We are expecting about 300 runners to take part in the race and about 3000 community members to turn up for the Health Expo event,” said Dinah Sandoval, Peace Corps Volunteer and one of the organizers of the event.
To promote a healthy lifestyle, the Health Expo will include testing for HIV, BMI, Blood Pressure and other basic health indicators. Organizations will showcase services or products that promote health and wellbeing. Attendees also will enjoy live entertainment and fun family activities.
Partners from outside Shakawe are providing support to make the event a success such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Gaborone, and the Southern Africa Regional Environmental Program (SAREP).
