SIERRA LEONE, Freetown – Mohamed Mansaray, one of the four hearing impaired runners who joined nearly 2,000 local and international runners from different countries around the world last Sunday in Makeni city for the 2022 Street Child Sierra Leone Marathon-(SLM) made history as the first ever hearing impaired to complete the 13 miles (Half Marathon) race in a record time of one hour, fifty five minutes-(1hr 50mins).
Although he finished the race behind four others all hearing paired, Mohamed Mansaray told Awoko Newspaper that he takes pride in being the only hearing impaired runner among hundreds of local and international runners that ran this year’s SLM 13 miles race.
“I’m proud of myself and my other three hearing impaired colleagues for taking the bold step to participate in the fundraising event becoming the first ever hearing impaired runners since the inception of the Street Child Marathon ten years ago.”
Responding through the use of signs and in writing, the three other hearing impaired runners that took part in the race, with smiling faces said, they knew very well that “it’s good to exercise, but they’re particularly happy to have ran various races in the 2022 Street Child Marathon and at least being able to beat the aging stereotypes of us being onlookers and cheerers of other persons running this very famous race.” ARW/11/6/2022