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UK charity runner raises K25m for orphans

British national Brendan Rendall, who set off on a run from Chitipa in the Northern Region to Nsanje at the southern tip of the country to raise £35 000 (about K35 million), has managed to raise K25 million at the end of his 27 marathons.

Rendall, who was mobilising the funds for the construction of a science block at Friends of Mulanje Orphanage (Fomo) Secondary School, wound up his mission in Nsanje on Monday.

Rendall welcomes Chalamanda around the Clock Tower in Blantyre
Rendall welcomes Chalamanda around the Clock Tower in Blantyre

Yesterday, at the start of his trip to Mulanje from Blantyre, Blantyre City Council (BCC) mayor Noel Chalamanda joined him from Petroda Filling Station at the Clock Tower to Blantyre Civic Centre. They were accompanied by  students from Fomo as well as Blantyre Kopites, a group of Liverpool Football Club fans who are in partnership with Fomo, among others.

Speaking in an interview at the civic centre, Rendall, who said along the way he had to have his leg treated at Beit Cure Hospital in Blantyre for free, described the run as the highest moment of his life.

“It’s down really to the many children that joined me running in Malawi, and the people and the smiles. Malawi is just an incredible country and I feel lucky to be here,” he said.

The 37-year-old, who is a special needs teacher in his country, said although he has fallen short of his target by K10 million ($13 736), the run has been worth it.

Chalamanda said he joined the run to show appreciation to Rendall for the initiative he has taken to benefit Malawi children.

He said: “It has taken a Briton to run over a 1 000 kilometres in Malawi to raise funds for us and I thought it would be a great sign of appreciation to him to run with him these five kilometres to officially say thank you.”

Fomo was established in 2000 to provide healthcare, education and shelter to needy and orphaned children in Mulanje. It has 14 centres, a clinic and computer, driving and tailoring schools.

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