Harare – Matthew Rusike Children’s Home (MRCH) is set to host a fundraising marathon dubbed Run for a Child Half Marathon on October 19 at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.
The Run for a Child Half Marathon event aims to raise US$10 000 to be channeled towards the essential needs of the children under MRCH care and the expansion of the educational facilities.
The marathon that also seeks to create awareness of the MRCH charity work will feature three race categories, 21km that will start at 6:00 AM, 10km race to commence at 6:10 AM and the 5km run that will start at 6:15 AM.
Speaking ahead of the event, MRCH director Reverend Linrlelink Mutendzwa said the marathon will play a pivotal role in supporting the organisation’s mission to transform lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe through biblical nurturing, teaching, and training into adaptive, responsible, self-reliant, and God-fearing citizens.
“As Matthew Rusike Children’s Home we extend a warm invitation to the public, corporate partners, and well-wishers to participate in the Run for a Child Half Marathon fundraising initiative, which we believe will make a lasting difference in the lives of children under our care,” Reverend Mutendzwa said.
“The marathon is more than a sporting event, it is a platform for the community to come together in support of vulnerable children as the funds to be raised will be used to complete and furnish a classroom block for our newly established Matthew Rusike Academy.”
Reverend Mutendzwa said participants are required to pay a registration fee of US$20 that can be via Ecocash merchant 74930 while tables will also be available for sale at US$15 each, and payments can also be made via EcoCash.
“Physical registration will take place on Friday, October 17 at Trinity MCZ (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM) and Old Georgians Sports Club (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM). On Saturday, October 18, potential participants will register at Old Georgians Sports Club. Payment can also be via Ecocash merchant 74930,” Reverend Mutendzwa explained.
The MRCH provides residential care to 100 children and reaches over 1,000 children nationwide through outreach programmes.
“As we are trying our best to expand the Matthew Rusike Academy (MARA) into a junior infant school, financial constraints are proving to be the stumbling block. The MARA was founded as a crèche and has since developed into an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center,” Reverend Mutendzwa noted.
“The vision to expand MARA into a junior infant school emerged during the COVID-19 era, and in January 2024, the first Grade One class was enrolled. Construction of a two-classroom block, now at roof level, is underway, and proceeds from the marathon will be used to accelerate this project’s completion.”
Reverend Mutendzwa applauded the partners who have already come on board.
“We encourage all participants to bring any donations on the day of the run. All contributions, in any form, will be greatly appreciated as they go a long way in support of our mission to bring joy, smiles to the faces of the children and uplift their lives,” Reverend Mutendzwa noted.
The Matthew Rusike Children Home’s childcare initiative was influenced by the work of the late Reverend Matthew Jacha Rusike who worked tirelessly for the benefit of the less privileged children.
Reverend Rusike was a Methodist Church in Zimbabwe member who took children in need and looked after them as he was moving from one place of appointment to another.
He served in places like Makwiro Circuit and Kwenda Circuit until the church established a residential care facility for orphans and vulnerable children in Epworth, 15km east of Harare in 1960 and assigned him to oversee childcare work.
Currently the home operates a multifaceted programme that combines residential care and community-based orphan care initiatives in response to the growing number of children in need of care.
The MRCH has decentralised its childcare projects to other districts and circuits through home and community-based care initiatives.
