All set for aerobathon fundraiser in Lilongwe

MALAWI: Lilongwe-based fitness hub, Sweatfactory Fitness Studio in conjunction with Running Mama Fitness and Apex gym has organized an aerobics session dubbed ‘Sweat for Mental Health Aerobathon’ slated for Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.

In an interview, one of the organizers for the event Mariam Matola said that the event has been organized to raise funds that would be used to support Bwaila Hospital psychiatric ward in Lilongwe.

“Suicide cases and other mental health-related incidents have increased in our communities.

“For this reason, we thought it wise to organize something that would help to raise awareness about mental health while at the same time raising funds that would be used to assist Bwaila mental ward to buy the basic needs such as, Medicine and some office furniture,” Matola said.

She added that their target is to raise more than K10 million and she said that all preparations have been done for the fundraiser to take place.

“Our focus is to raise at least K10 million, currently we have finalized the preparations for the event and we have also reached out to several organizations including; Seedco, Alliance One, Eco Bank, TNM, and Airtel Malawi to sponsor their employees to be part of the fundraising event,” she said.

Matola urged the general public also to take part in raising awareness about mental health in a bid to help in addressing issues of mental health in the country.

“Let us be vigilant in raising mental health awareness, lets encourage people to talk to someone without fear of being judged when they have problems this would help to reduce incidents of suicide and related cases in the country,” she explained.

She urged Lilongwe residents and those from areas around Lilongwe to patronize the fundraising event in their large numbers; however, she said they will be asked to pay K2000 in order to participate.

Bwaila Hospital Mental Health Clinical Officer, Gertrude Mkandawire hails Sweatfactory Fitness Studio and its partners for the fundraising initiative.

“The initiative is very beneficial to Bwaila district hospital’s mental department as it will improve mental health services at the hospital in terms of care for the clients as there will be the availability of medications to treat mental patients.

“Additionally, the initiative will help to bring awareness to the community that despite the closure of Bwaila Psychiatric unit under Kamuzu central hospital there are still other services being offered at Bwaila,” Mkandawire said.