The Sahara Marathon Association celebrates its 15th anniversary and announces the outcome of its charitable initiatives in earthquake-affected areas.
The Sahara Marathon Association celebrated its fifteenth anniversary during a special event held at the association’s headquarters, attended by the mayor of Ouarzazate, along with several personalities, athletes, volunteers, and families and children from the Tamassent and Itstfotelil villages.
This event served as an opportunity to showcase the key achievements of the association in the field of charitable and social work, particularly regarding its solidarity initiatives aimed at benefiting those affected by the Al-Haouz earthquake. The association announced the completion of 40 houses for affected families in a remote area of the Atlas Mountains.
During the celebration, the “Bijha” cooperative was inaugurated within the association’s headquarters, with a dedicated area of 100 square meters set aside to develop cooperative activities and support small local businesses, a step aimed at enhancing the economic integration of the local population. Additionally, sports competitions in athletics and football were organized, allowing the region’s youth to showcase their sporting talents in a festive atmosphere that gave a special touch to the anniversary.
Patrick Bouyer, one of the founders of the Sahara Marathon and the association’s president, expressed deep gratitude to all who contributed to achieving these accomplishments, particularly thanking Marie Bouyer, a co-founder who led the association for several years, alongside various partners and supporters, including the “Children and Future” Foundation, “Almeida Foundation,” “France Foundation,” “Almond Wagner Foundation,” and the “Authentic Traveler” agency.
Bouyer also extended thanks to the “Hertz” company in Casablanca, which provided the association with a small truck for a full year to transport building materials and donations, alongside the efforts of staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this initiative successful.
In terms of fundraising, Cyril Neufville, organizer of the Classic Morocco Rally, supported the association by organizing a dinner event that raised €10,000, equivalent to a quarter of the association’s operating budget. Additionally, the organizers of the “Great Trail of the Draa Valley” contributed over €3,000, while four French participants in the Sahara Marathon donated €2,800.
The ceremony concluded with a speech from Patrick Bouyer, announcing that the long-standing partnership between the association and the Sahara Marathon Organization would end at the close of April, which will necessitate a change in the historical name of the association during its next annual meeting. He praised the continued support received by the association over 15 years of partnership.
