Accra (Greater Accra),12th August 99

This year's 42-kilometre Accra Milo marathon, slated for Saturday, September 25, is being giving an added impetus with the introduction of a special event for children below 15 years.

Mr Andre Porchet, Managing Director of Nestle (Ghana) Limited, whose company is spending 107 million cedis in sponsorship, said the children's race would cover 10 kilometres.

Unlike that of the adults which will start from ?The Point? at Nungua, through some principal streets in the capital to the Dansoman Keep-fit Club, the under-15 event will begin at the Korle-bu Mobil filling station to the Keep-fit grounds.

The idea is to unearth talents among the children, nurture them in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mr Porchet said and promised that those who excel would be sponsored to participate and represent the nation in international marathons.

Only 500 children with an authentic birth certificate will be registered beginning tomorrow, August 12 at the Pee Tay Limited, High Street, and the Dansoman Keep-fit club house. The adults will have theirs at the Accra

Sports Stadium and Ebony Restaurant at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle among other places.

The winner in the adults division takes home a cash prize of 800,000 cedis, Milo products, a trophy and a certificate while that of the under-15 receives a 500,000- cedi scholarship bursary, a certificate and products of the sponsors.

Mr Porchet said the prizes for the first and second runner-ups are being worked out and that over 270 consolation prizes would be given.

Mr Porchet, who took over from Mr A. J. Whitehead quite recently as the Managing Director, said two weeks prior to the start of the race, a van sales of Milo products will be staged along the marathon route to create awareness.

Mr John Ankrah, Secretary, Dansoman Keepfit Club, Organisers of the race said a three-day medical examination for both adults and under-15 athletes will be conducted from the August 22 to 24 at the Military hospital in Accra.

He said plans are afoot to ensure that those who cheat by joining taxis to meet their colleagues at the closing stages will be checked.

Mr Ankrah commended Nestle for being associated with the Dansoman Keep-fit marathon for the 12 out of the 14 years that it has existed.