Simbu honoured to grace Arusha’s Dyslexia Awareness Run
ARUSHA: TANZANIA’S Marathon legend, Alphonce Simbu, has been honoured to grace the Dyslexia Awareness Run in Arusha
Simbu, who recently won a gold medal in the World Athletics Championship, will grace the forthcoming Dyslexia Awareness Run set for a flag off this Sunday, October 19th, 2025.
Simbu became the first Tanzanian to win a gold medal in a world marathon championship after finishing first in the World Championships Marathon in Tokyo, Japan.
Simbu will more than 1500 other participants in the second edition of the Dyslexia Awareness Run.
The Program Manager for Dyslexia Tanzania, Nsape Mwasyoke, said the awareness run is usually held in October to raise more voices on dyslexia.
Adding, Mwasyoke, said Gabriel Geay, a world-class marathoner, is among the participants of the event, serving as a platform that engages children and parents to support Dyslexia Children in Arusha and Tanzania as a whole.
The second edition of the Dyslexia Awareness Run, racing under the theme of ‘Run for Literacy,’ will be flagged off on 19th October this year.
The race will start from Mgambo grounds, at Uzunguni, with runners racing through Kijenge roundabout, Philips, Sanawari, and back to the starting point again.
“The second season includes more races, including 2.5 kilometers and 5 kilometers in addition to the main event of 10 kilometers run, which makes all people be able to participate,” stated Mwasyoke.
On her part, Caudence Ayoti, the founder of Dyslexia Tanzania, points out that they previously held talent shows for the children.
“We have several platforms that can allow children suffering from Dyslexia to display their talents,” explained Caudence.
“Dyslexic children are now slow learners, but they are the ones with special skills that cannot be expressed through normal education environments, but most of the remarkable inventions in the world can be credited to people with Dyslexia,” she added.
During the first season, held in 2024, more than 600 participants raced in the Dyslexia run, though the target was 1000. This time around, the organizers are setting a higher target of 1500 runners because the event incorporates various other active inputs for a more inclusive event.
Gerald Babu is the chairperson of the Arusha Regional Athletics Association, said that the fact that organizers of the Dyslexia run have incorporated children’s races, the event becomes even more important as it grooms the minors for future international marathons.
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“The Arusha City director has given us children from three primary schools to participate in the Dyslexia Run, which shows the government supports the initiative,” stated Babu.
On his part, Johns Habib Rashid, the Director of Demi Tours and Company Limited, which is the main sponsor of the Dyslexia Run, supports efforts to help raise awareness of the conditions affecting many children, especially during learning sessions in class.
