Latest News #254 – Malawi
August 14, 2003

Mini-marathon is Society’s
“most successful fundraiser ever”

By Kamwana Muyaya, Associate Director (Programmes), Bible Society of Malawi

BLANTYRE, Malawi — Most people would expect a 57-year-old man to choose something rather less energetic than a marathon run as a way of raising funds for Bible work. This is why Roderick Chingota, Honorary Treasurer of the Bible Society of Malawi, caused a stir at a meeting about fundraising when he said that he felt “compelled to run” to raise funds to produce more copies of a Scripture Portion addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS which has proved extremely popular in Malawi.

But Mr Chingota was not joking when he asked the Society to make arrangements for him to undertake a sponsored run from Bible House in Blantyre to Mpemba and back, a distance of some 25 kms (16.25 miles). Indeed, he was firmly resolved to both raise funds by his own efforts and inspire others to participate with him. He explained that his motivation came from his desire to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the Scriptures and from Paul's words to the Hebrews: “We must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us” (Hebrews 12:1, CEV).

When Mr Chingota set off on his mini-marathon on May 31, he was accompanied by 10 others, all of whom successfully covered the entire route. Mr Chingota alone raised some MK 101,100 (US$ 1,021), while the total raised so far amounts to MK 177,777 (US$ 1,746). Strong support from churches, organisations, individuals and the media played a very valuable role in allowing such a significant sum to be raised. The enthusiastic response to the run, both financially and in other forms of support, has led to it being hailed as the Bible Society's most successful fundraising undertaking ever.

The mini-marathon is one of a number of fundraising ventures to which the Bible Society is turning as it pursues its vision of bringing words from Scripture to the many thousands of Malawians who are affected by HIV/AIDS, either as patients or carers. The Society distributed 50,000 copies of the Scripture Portion Living in Hope: Help From the Scriptures for Coping with HIV/AIDS last year in Chichewa (both Braille and print), Chitumbuka, Chiyao and Chisena. This publication, which has been made widely available across Southern Africa, received an overwhelming response from the churches and non-governmental organisations which distributed it and from recipients. The Bible Society has received many requests for further copies, and it is now planning to arrange reprints in all four languages at a cost of MK 750,000 (US$ 7,578).

The production and distribution of Living in Hope in Malawi will run for four years and cost some MK 3,000,000 (US$ 30,314). With such an ambitious target to meet, Chrissie Mwanza, Chairperson of the Society’s Executive Committee, who participated in the run, is hoping to make it an annual event.