Heart for Africa is excited to be an official charity in the Carlsbad Marathon for the 3rd year. The marathon has been a great partner with Heart for Africa in the southern California area. In the past two years, over 150 people have supported Heart for Africa as they ran the half and full marathon. By running for Heart for Africa, these athletes have raised over $30,000 to help further our work in Swaziland and Kenya. In addition, they have raised awareness in the Carlsbad area for the issues facing the children of these countries.

In 2010, we hope to take it to a new level with the Carlsbad Marathon. We are hoping to raise $20,000 for Heart for Africa's "Celebrate Litsemba" event that will be held in Swaziland in July, 2010.

Litsemba means hope in siSwati, the language spoken in Swaziland. This one day event will host over 15,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in this small country in southern Africa. It will be a day of celebration. Celebration of their lives, their country, and, most of all, God. Leading up to this event, Heart for Africa will work with church leaders from around Swaziland to identify the orphaned children in their communities. Our goal for "Celebrate Litsemba" is that the churches of Swaziland will rise up and help provide for the estimated 200,000 orphaned children in this small country.

And we hope that you will join us in doing so. Register today to run for Heart for Africa and the orphans of Swaziland. Set a goal to raise at least $500 as you train and run in the marathon. Registration and fundraising is the easy part. Training and running is the hard part. But remember the children for whom you are doing this. And know that when you run in January in Carlsbad, you are helping ensure a child will be able to "Celebrate Litsemba" in July in Swaziland.  Download our Fundraising Flyer to help you get started with meeting your goal of $500.

To make a donation to someone registered to run in the marathon, go to the Marathon Fund Raising page.

Heart for Africa and Carlsbad Marathon have teamed up to collect 2,000 blankets that will be distributed during the Celebrate Litsemba event in July. Click here for more information on donating a blanket on the day of the marathon.