Over 500 runners, mostly from the Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State, will compete for a share of the total cash prize of N3.5m in the maiden Surulere 10km Marathon, which holds on Saturday (today) within the bustling area of the state, Aso Reporters reports.
The 10km marathon is the first of a twin event tagged ‘’LERE FUNATHON’, which is organised by UB40 Sports Marketing and Starlite Sports Marketing with the support of the Surulere Local Government Area and the Lagos State Sports Commission.
Chairman of Surulere LGA, Sulaimon Yusuf, announced the prize for the event on Friday while restating their commitment to the continuation of the event.
“It is our delight to partner with the organisers of this event. We expect our runners to be as ready as possible. The chairman has pledged to give a sum of N1m to the winner, N500,000 to the second-placed runner, and the third-placed runner gets N250,000 in both male and female categories,” Yusuf said through the LGA’s Supervisory Councillor on Sports.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, who was represented by the director of sports, Deji Aladegbemi, said the idea has inspired the birth of marathon races in other local government areas of the state.
“This is another programme that is very dear to the Lagos State Sports Commission because it further drives community cohesion and a healthy lifestyle. It will be an event that will bring everyone from all parts of Nigeria who live in Surulere together. That is what sports can do to our coexistence. The roads within the route of the race will be cordoned for the event, and we will make sure we don’t cause so much delay for the movement of our dear residents as well.”
Chairman of the local organising committee, Sola Lawson, also expressed the body’s readiness to make it an annual event in Surulere and Lagos State.
“We acknowledge the immense support given to us by our local government chairman and the Lagos State Sports Commission, who did not hesitate to grant approval and endorsement. In today’s environment, N1m is a good income for a 10k race, and us too; apart from the cash prizes, each of the winners will be getting different items from our different sponsors, including medals and certificates,” Lawson said.
The race is expected to begin at 6:30 am from the Teslim Balogun Stadium and end at the popular stable at Bode Thomas where the fun fair will follow.