THE organisers of the NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon unveiled an impressive roaster of sponsors and partners that are set to elevate the marathon experience to new heights .
The press conference, held at THE Centurion Pub and Grill at Harare Sports Club on Thursday, brought together a dynamic team of stakeholders, each committed to making the 2024 edition of the marathon slated for 23 November a resounding success.
“This year’s marathon is the second edition of what has now become an annual event,” Alois Bunjira, founder of Albun Fitness and one of the marathon’s organisers said.
“The main objective is to promote rural tourism in the Honde Valley and foster a culture of exercise, fitness and health throughout Zimbabwe.”
To achieve this goal, the organisers have forged an array of strategic partnerships, ranging from transportation providers to air conditioning companies to publishing firms.
These synergies are set to create a truly immersive and memorable experience for participants.
One such partnership is with CAG Travelling Coaches, who will be providing two coaches to transport runners to and from the event on the eve and day of the marathon.
“If you don’t want to use your own vehicle, you can simply get into the coach and it will take you to Netone Albun Honde Valley and back,” Bunjira explained.
Another innovative collaboration is with DripTech Irritatgation, who have donated two 5,000-litre water tanks. One of these will be raffled off to a lucky runner who registers through the Netone’s OneMoney platform, while the other will be gifted to the Gatsi Old People’s Home in Honde Valley to address their pressing water needs.
Neoro-Air, an air conditioning company, has also joined the fray, donating a home air conditioning system that will be up for grabs through a raffle at the marathon’s conclusion.
The event’s main sponsor, NetOne, has “upped the stakes” for this year’s edition, cementing their commitment as the title sponsor for the “NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon.”
Other returning partners include First Mutual Micro Finance, CAG Traveling Coaches, Drip Tech, Nepro Air, LM Auctioneers, 4 May, Sweat Field Fitness, Centurion Pub and Grill. Others include Eastern Highlands Tea Estate, Palm Lodges, Humphrey Lodges, Valley Lodges, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe and Priority Projects.
With a meticulously planned route and a post-race business exhibition and prize-giving ceremony, the 2024 NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon promises to be a truly transformative experience for runners and spectators alike.
“We are very confident that this year’s marathon is going to be much, much bigger than last year because we’ve done our homework,” Bunjira concluded.
“We’ve made some mistakes last year, fixed those gaps, and now we are very confident that we are going to have a smooth and well-organised marathon that everybody is going to enjoy.”
