Over 100 runners took part in Tonga Animal Welfare Society (TAWS) Tonga marathon, on Saturday, 7 September, at Niutōua, which helped raise money for TAWS to order medicines for treating fleas in dogs and cats.

TAWS has raised over $3000 pa'anga, that will be used to buy the much needed flea and tick treatments for domestic pets. TAWs will then sell those treatments at an affordable price to the community.

The marathon started and ended at the Ha’amonga Trilithon at Niutōua, on eastern Tongatapu. A 42 km race started at 6:00 am and a 5 km walk run started around 8:30am. TAWS stated the weather was cool and the rain held off until the end of the race.

The runners included teams from Tonga Police and Tonga Fire Services, individual runners, and corporate groups.

Three special entrants this year, Judy, Carol and Toshi, walked the 42 kms at 3:30am in the morning.

However, next year for TAWS 5^th anniversary, they are planning to host a big event with Marathon Globetrotters, an international marathon club.