Africell Sierra Leone and Street Child have launched the 13th Edition of the Sierra Leone Street Child Marathon, with this year’s event scheduled to take place in Makeni on Sunday 25 October 2026.
The launch was held on Tuesday 22 September 2026 at Africell’s headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown, bringing together representatives of Street Child, Africell, the Sierra Leone Athletes Association and other stakeholders.
The marathon will feature four categories, 5K, 10K, 21K half marathon and 42K full marathon.
Speaking at the launch, Africell Sierra Leone Media Manager Abdul Karim Sesay reaffirmed the company’s continued support for Street Child and its initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children across the country.
He said Africell is proud to continue its partnership with Street Child, noting that the collaboration over the years had supported vulnerable children and communities while providing platforms to amplify children’s voices and promote education and development.
He said Africell had consistently supported Street Child’s efforts to reach communities and improve the lives of children across Sierra Leone. He described the marathon as more than a sporting event, saying it represented concern for children, their education and empowerment.
Abdul Karim Sesay said Africell would provide technical, media and graphic design support to promote this year’s marathon and encourage wider participation. He also encouraged journalists and other stakeholders to use their platforms to raise awareness about the event and the importance of supporting children’s education and physical wellbeing.
On his remarks, Street Child Sierra Leone Country Director Emmanuel Kelfa Kargbo highlighted the marathon’s role in supporting children while promoting healthy living among participants.
He said the marathon is not only a sporting event but also a platform for Street Child to showcase its work and encourage support for children facing challenges in accessing education.
He disclosed that Street Child is approaching the completion of 55 schools across the country as part of its efforts to improve access to education.
According to him, he said this year’s marathon had already attracted more than 1,000 participants even before its official launch. He said the organisation is considering how to accommodate increased participation as interest in the event continued to grow.
The Street Child Country Director encouraged people of different ages and abilities to participate, noting that those unable to run could walk. He said participation could contribute to individual health while supporting Street Child’s work to improve children’s access to education.
He cited communities where children face difficulties reaching schools, including situations where they have to cross rivers and walk long distances. He said such experiences reinforced the importance of ensuring that every child has an opportunity to access education.
National Race Manager of the Sierra Leone Athletes Association, Ibrahim Moses Kargbo commended Street Child for organising the marathon, describing it as an important platform for promoting athletics, healthy lifestyles and the development of sporting talent.
He said the event had also created opportunities for athletes to develop through competitive running. Reflecting on his involvement with the marathon since 2017, he said two athletes he worked with participated in the event and subsequently achieved notable success.
He explained that the athletes initially competed in the 5K before progressing to the 10K, with their development eventually leading to their representation of Sierra Leone at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Ibrahim Moses Kargbo said the experience demonstrated the opportunities that the marathon could provide for young athletes. He commended Street Child’s continued support for athletics and expressed his willingness to strengthen collaboration between the organisation and the Sierra Leone Athletes Association.
On his statement, Afrimoney Marketing Director, John Konteh encouraged members of the public to participate in the marathon, saying the event promotes healthy living, networking and support for children’s education.
He said participants should take part according to their abilities, noting that those unable to run could walk.
He explained that registration could be completed through Afrimoney by dialing *161*4# and entering the marathon merchant code 760817. Participants would then select their preferred race category and complete payment using their Afrimoney PIN.
He said registration fees is Le40 for the 5K, Le50 for the 10K, Le60 for the half marathon and Le75 for the full marathon.
He said successful registration would generate a transaction ID, which participants should keep as it would be required when collecting their marathon race materials from designated Street Child locations.
He further encouraged participants to remain physically active through activities such as walking and running, saying the marathon provided an opportunity to promote healthier lifestyles while contributing to a cause focused on children’s education.
The 13th Edition of the Sierra Leone Street Child Marathon will take place in Makeni on Sunday 25 October 2026, with participants expected to compete across the 5K, 10K, 21K half marathon and 42K full marathon categories.
