By Abu S. Tarawalie
In an inspiring display of resilience and determination, women with disabilities under the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Women of Hope International participated in the Street Child Marathon held on 4th May 2025 in Makeni. The event, which concluded at the Wusum Stadium, highlighted the inclusive spirit of the marathon and the growing visibility of disabled athletes in Sierra Leone.
Leading the group was MariatuTholley, the first to cross the finish line among the disabled participants. She was followed by AlimamyMansary, goalkeeper of the Amputee Football Association, in second place. Other finishers included FatmataDumbuya (3rd), KadiatuKoroma (4th), FatmataKanu (5th), Marion Kamara (6th), MakapriKamara (7th), MariamaFofanah (8th), CouncillorAdamaConteh (9th), and Aminata Bah (10th).
The participants completed a 5-kilometre run from Mabanta Road through Mohamed Bangura Street and Fullah Town, culminating at Wusum Stadium.
Speaking after the event, CouncillorAdamaConteh, who also serves as Operations Manager for Women of Hope International based in Makeni, stated:
“Our organization works with women with disabilities, and we participated in the marathon from start to finish alongside able-bodied runners to show that we belong in society. We ran to prove that disability does not mean inability.”
She further emphasized the importance of the event for empowerment and awareness:
“Street Child is an independent organization, and we joined this marathon to showcase our potential. It was a test case for us, and by God’s grace, we hope to include the next Street Child Marathon in our 2026 budget plan. I encourage more women with disabilities to step forward, showcase their talents, and break barriers.”
The participation of Women of Hope International added a powerful message of inclusion and capability to the annual marathon, inspiring many and reinforcing the importance of representation in public sporting events.
