_: WINDHOEK: Namibian paralympian Johanna Benson has won a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games underway in London yesterday evening.

It is also Namibia’s first-ever gold medal in the Paralympic and/or Olympic Games.

Golden girl Benson ran a terrific T37 200m race, clocking 29.26 seconds, and winning comfortably ahead of Great Britain’s Bethany Woodward (29.65) and Germany’s Maria Seifert (29.86).

She also won silver in the 100m sprint on Sunday.

Her two medals have earned her N.dollars 170 000 as promised by the Directorate of Sports – N.dollars 100 000 for gold and N.dollars 70 000 for silver.

It is her first Paralympic Games participation.

The Office of the President yesterday announced that more than N.dollars 270 000 in donations were made to the President’s Charity Fund since the Head of State’s birthday last month.

The fund was established after President Hifikepunye Pohamba last year made a call on corporate entities and individuals wishing to congratulate him on his birthday to rather use the money spent on advertisements to do so, for more charitable causes.

When Pohamba turned 77 on 18 August this year, donations were received from a number of individuals and the business community, prompting the Head of State to start the President’s Charity Fund.

Addressing a media conference at State House yesterday, Special Advisor to the President Mukwaita Shanyengana said that an amount of N.dollars 270 965 was received.

The money will benefit charity organisations catering for the social and educational needs of children in all 13 regions of the country.