THOUSANDS of dinars were raised in one of the country’s biggest charity fundraisers held over the weekend.
Around BD20,000 was raised as around 3,000 runners from Bahrain and abroad took part in the popular annual Bahrain Marathon Relay (BMR).
The 39th edition of the race was organised by the Bahrain Round Table and Rotaract Bahrain (a part of Rotary International) and a number of sponsors.
The annual race was launched in 1980, when nearly 20 teams took part, with close to 200 teams signing up for the 48km run this year.
The categories were open men/mix, schools under-18, open women, hotels, schools over-18, sports/social clubs, telecommunication/IT, financial institutions, Hash House Harriers and the construction sector.
Alongside the 3,000 runners, the event also featured 200 marshals and 40 support staff and medical teams.
The race was held at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) with participants running through Bahrain University, Awali and the adjoining area before turning back and returning to the starting point with traffic personnel ensuring motorists were assisted alongside drink stations and toilets set up for runners and spectators.
The GDN previously reported in 2016 that ever since the first Bahrain Marathon Relay was held in 1981, the event has helped raise more than BD1,000,000 for local charities with the collection growing each year.
According to organising committee member Bader Ebrahim, the event encourages people in Bahrain to stay healthy and at the same time help local charities with donations presented to different charities within efforts to help in their activities and programmes.
“The event was very good and we received great feedback,” he told the GDN.
“One of the major hurdles in previous events was the way the time keeping was made, but this year with the help of the Bahrain Triathlon Association, we surpassed that hurdle.
“The changes were taken very positively by the organisers and participants and we were able to get the results in faster than in previous years.
“This wouldn’t happen without the support of our sponsors who brought this event together and the thousands of runners who take part every year.”
Sponsors include MEEM, Dilmunia, Titan, Haribo, Nestle and the BIC as well as the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The BMR has been a major lifeline for the country’s charities over the years, with proceeds going to groups such as the Bahrain Down Syndrome Society, Bahrain Mobility International, RIA, Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Bahrain International Seafarers Society and Migrant Workers Protection Society. For more information visit- www.bahrainmarathonrelay.org.
Bapco overall winners
Bapco team were the overall winners as well as in the open men/mixed category, finishing in 2 hours, 38 minutes and 55 seconds.
They were followed by Finmark Communications in 2 hours 56 minutes and 8 seconds and Bahrain Warriors in 3 hours 12 minutes and 15 seconds.
The other winners in each category are as follows:
- Open men/mixed: 1. Bapco; 2. Finmark Communications; 3. Bahrain Warriors.
- Financial institutions: 1. ABC Bank; 2. HSBC Bank; 3. Citi Bank.
- Schools (under 18): 1. Abdulrahman Kanoo International School; 2. Bahrain Falcons; 3. Naseem International School.
- Schools (over 18): 1. Bahrain University; 2. Bahrain Polytechnic; 3. British School of Bahrain.
- Sports/social club: 1. GPIC; 2. Bahrain Road Runners A ; 3. Bahrain International Circuit team 2.
- Construction: 1. Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali red team; 2. Kooheji Contractors; 3. Amad Baeed Electrical.
- Hash House Harriers: 1. Bahrain Hash House Harriers; 2. Khobar H3; 3. Bahrain Black Hash.
- Hotels: 1. The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain; 2. Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa; 3. Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
- Open ladies: 1. Team Chrissy (from the Bahrain Rugby Football Club); 2. Lettuce Run (from the Mentorship ME Forum); 3. Dessange.
- Telecommunications: 1. Jaan Click Media; 2. Delta Security Services team Desert Penguins; 3. Almoayyed ICT.
reem@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))