MASHWEDE Holdings launched the Mashwede 10km run in partnership with a Chitungwiza Academy Mr Pace, scheduled for Mashwede Village in High Glen on March 19.
The event will also incorporate the 5 km and wheelchair category for the differently-abled athletes.
Young people frequent Mashwede Village and the young at heart, most of whom have been affected by drugs and substance abuse.
This 10 km run has attracted professional athletes, and the organisers are using the event to show the youth that they can carve a career out of long-distance running.
The chairman and founder of Mashwede Holdings, Alex Mashamhanda, wants to see Zimbabwe dominating the long-distance marathons.
“The Kenyans have been dominating world marathons, and I feel that if we start grooming our young people from a young age, who knows, we may one day be better than them. However, there has to be a start and competing with each other here at home is that starting point,” said Mashamhanda.
“Hopefully, one day, we can have a champion who will firstly beat the Kenyans and then the world.”
His company is no stranger to supporting sports and has partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash U17) for over a decade.
“We are joining other athletics activities that have been happening already and joining many other corporations who have invested in athletics. As a company we want our youngsters to stay fit. We are inviting the young people to come and participate in this race,” he said.
“First and foremost, we would like to encourage good health and exercise. Soon we will be opening a gym at one of our properties in the High Glen. The future is in our young people. We have done our part, and it’s up to them.”
