Good turnout for environmental family fun run |28 July 2022
Petra Maria and Dimitry Beaudoin from the Ile Persévérance primary school and Kelvin Nganga from the Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd were the winners of the environmental family fun run marathon organised by the Seychelles Centennial Women Lions Club recently.
The aim of the sponsored fun run held on the playing field of the Seychelles Cricket Association at Ile Persévérance was to raise funds for the treatment of child cancer and for the elderly homes and also to raise awareness about a clean environment under the theme ‘Cleanliness and Fitness’.
“We usually hold fund-raising activities in support of the community and for the last two years we have not been able to do so because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year we have the opportunity to re-start our activities in support of the community at large,” said Anithraraj Kannan, president of the Seychelles Centennial Women Lions Club (SCWLC).
Competitors raced in three categories ‒ 5-10 years old (one lap = 400 metres), 11-17 years old (two laps = 800 metres), and 18 years old and above (three laps = 1200 metres). Participants from Ile Persévérance primary school, Belonie primary school, Independent school and the Pointe Larue primary school took part in the 400m and 800m races.
The winners in each category received a trophy from SCWLC and a hamper from Airtel. A silver medal was given to those who finished in second position while third-placed finishers received a bronze medal. All participants received a certificate of participation.
Eight-year-old Petra Maria was the first to cross the finish line in the one-lap race and she was followed by 10-year-old Shael Thomas in second position. Nine-year-old Ervin Brioche from Independent school came in third place. Second and third to Dimitry Beaudoin in the 11-17 years old category were Ruben Rosalie and Eira Pierre also from Ile Persévérance primary school. They are both aged 11 years old.
“The athletes have not been in action since taking part in the 46th Inter-school Athletics Championship and I saw it as a good opportunity for them to test their physical ability and also for us to support the causes of the Seychelles Centennial Women Lions Club,” said Owen Vital, Ile Persévérance primary school physical education teacher.
Second to Kelvin Nganga in the 18 years old and above category was Maggy Harray also from IOT. In third position was Deepak Radhakrishnan, a teacher from English River secondary school.
“I just wanted to come and have some fun and further to answer to the very good cause of the Seychelles Centennial Women Lions Club in support of child cancer treatment, the elderly and the environment,” said Nganga.
In a bid to raise awareness about a clean environment under the theme ‘Cleanliness and Fitness’, the participating schools were presented with fruit trees sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment. The SCWLC also planted a coconut tree in the corner of the playing field as a donation to the Seychelles Cricket Association.
Patrick Joubert
