Hundreds of runners and disability advocates filled the streets of Milton Park early Sunday for the annual St Giles Cerebral Palsy Half-Marathon, an event aimed at raising awareness and critical funds for the St Giles Rehabilitation Centre.
The race began promptly at 5:30 a.m., with participants competing across four categories: the flagship 21km half-marathon, as well as 10km, 5km and 2km fun runs.
The range of distances allowed elite athletes, casual runners and families to take part in the charitable event.
Organisers said the strong turnout reflected growing community support for people living with cerebral palsy and the rehabilitation centre’s work providing specialised therapy and care.
Support from both the public and private sectors helped power the event. Refreshments were supplied by Delta Corporation Limited, which also used the race to introduce its new Sprite Lemon and Lime variant.
Traffic management and course safety were coordinated by the City of Harare and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who deployed officers and course guides along the route.
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Other partners included National Social Security Authority, Varichem Pharmaceuticals and NetOne, among several corporate supporters.
The race started and finished at the St Giles Rehabilitation Centre grounds. For a registration fee of US$20, participants received a commemorative T-shirt, finisher’s medal and a meal at the end of the race. Many runners said, however, the greatest reward was contributing to the centre’s work.
Tinashe Matambo, who competed in the 21km race, said the event carried a deeper meaning than a typical competitive run.
“The energy at 5:30 a.m. was incredible. I usually run for time, but today every kilometre felt like it had a deeper purpose. Seeing the St Giles kids at the finish line reminds you that being able to run is a gift,” Matambo said.
Sarah Makoni, who joined the 5km fun run with her family, said the race also served as a moment of gratitude.
“My nephew receives therapy here at St Giles, so this wasn’t just a race for us — it was a way to say thank you. We walked the 5km together as a family. The kids loved the medals and the meal at the end,” she said.
The atmosphere remained lively throughout the morning as runners crossed the finish line and supporters cheered from the sidelines.
Organisers said they hope the strong turnout will help expand support for disability advocacy and ensure continued funding for rehabilitation services at the centre.