The AIMS Children’s Series looks to promote good health and fitness to young people around the World and to introduce and promote running as part of a healthy lifestyle. Four hundred African children took part in the second edition of the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) Children´s Series which took place on 21 April 2012, starting and finishing at the Tushikamane Care Secondary School in Tanzania, Africa.
The 400 runners, all orphans and children living in difficulty were recruited from schools from the local area. They ran in under-17 and under-13 age categories for both boys and girls. Boys wore blue and girls wore white round neck AIMS t-shirts. After the race the children were provided with refreshments and served a buffet lunch.
The event was co-ordinated between Infosol Tanzania and Tushikamane Children’s Care Trust Fund. Every participant was awarded a medal provided by AIMS, the first 3 winners of each category were acknowledged and awarded an extra gift of school equipment.
AIMS would like to thank the sponsors who made this extraordinary race possible: MYLAPS, ASICS, OPAP and the TOKYO MARATHON FOUNDATION. Thanks are further extended to all the AIMS membership who contribute to the care of children by supporting and promoting the AIMS Children’s Series.
AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “The AIMS Children’s Series is a big part of the Association’s commitment to developing sporting opportunity for young people in developing nations. We are very grateful for the help given by our partners and members in making these unique opportunities possible for young people around the World.”
AIMS Vice President and Coordinator of the Children’s Series Martha Morales comments: “It is great to see the joy on the faces of the young children and the impact these events have in encouraging running, fitness and good health as part of a positive and healthy lifestyle.”
The Tanzanian event follows the first edition of the AIMS Children’s Series 2012 held in San Luis Potosi, México, which took place on 31 January, 2012, with around 1,000 children participating. The event was staged in the municipality of Villa de Reyes. The children came from more than 50 different communities, and had to travel to the venue to attend the race. For many it was the first time they had traveled outside their immediate community and the first time they had taken part in an athletic event.
This organization received the full support of the Government of San Luis Potosi through the Governor Dr. Fernando Toranzo Fernandez and the Family Integral Development System directed by Dra. María Luisa Ramos Segura.
AIMS is a member based organisation of 320 of the world’s leading distance races in over 100 countries. AIMS looks to encourage and promote fitness among young people.
AIMS recognises that there are great differences across the world economically, culturally and socially. With this in mind, AIMS launched the Children’s Series at the beginning of 2006 to assist selected member races in promoting running among children in areas of need.
The third Children’s Series event is due to take place on 2 June 2012 in Durban, Kwazulu Natal South Africa, and will be organized by the Comrades Marathon.