Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon

Kiln celebrates its 50th year in 2012, providing an opportunity for us to look back, not with complacency, but with a deep sense of gratitude and in recognition of the opportunities that we have been afforded over our many years and to look at areas where the past 50 years have been less kind.

To commemorate this milestone, we sponsored a groundbreaking marathon in Makeni, Sierra Leone on 9 June 2012, in support of the British charity, Street Child of Sierra Leone (SCoSL).

Sierra Leone is celebrating its Golden Jubilee year following 50 years of independence and is still recovering from the effects of a brutal civil war which left thousands of children alone and having to fend for themselves by living and working on the streets.

The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is the flagship event of SCoSL's Golden Jubilee Appeal bid to raise a million pounds to help the country's children off the streets and into education.

It will provide a desperately needed financial boost to enable the charity to build 50 schools, reunite 1,000 children with their families, and support 5,000 impoverished street children through education.

Charles Franks, Chief Executive of Kiln Group, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Kiln to play its own small part in supporting Sierra Leone on its road to prosperity, as the country celebrates 50 years of independence. We are determined to run and raise as much as we can, and engage the support of the insurance market for this important cause."

Please watch our videos. In the first Charles Franks talks about why Kiln sponsored the marathon. In the second Street Child of Sierra Leone founder Tom Dannatt explains how important and thrilled SCoSL were to have Kiln as title sponsors. The third film showcases the work SCoSL has carried out since its formation in 2008.

Finally we are very proud of our staff who are running. So watch what Simon Bianco, Sam Arrowsmith and Ben McGeown have to say about their participation.

Plus you can read updates from our Kiln staff bloggers on the marathon microsite www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/blog/