Projo Running Blog

Courtesy of Toby Tanser:

S h o e 4 A f r i c a
Launches ‘Run for Peace’ in Kenya
The March 15th Race Responds to the Country’s Recent Violence

New York, NY – February 27, 2008 – SHOE4AFRICA, a not-for-profit organization that promotes empowerment, health, and AIDS awareness in Africa, announced today the first-ever Run for Peace event. The race on March 15th in Iten, Kenya, will unite 500 schoolchildren for a 5K run and peace celebration.

Shoe4Africa established the Run for Peace event in response to Kenya’s unbridled violence that started on December 27, 2007, and has horrified the world. Unicef states that more than 100,000 Kenyan children have been displaced countrywide and that it will take months to rebuild their lives. According to reports in the Kenyan Business Daily, preliminary figures show that 64,000 children are not able to attend school.

Toby Tanser, founder of Shoe4Africa, was in Kenya last December and after he spoke with a group of children about the ongoing violence, they asked him to organize an event for them, something to look forward to, and something positive in the gloom. "Shoe4Africa is recognized for promoting Aids awareness through sport", says Tanser. “We acted quickly to establish Run for Peace as need for peace and happiness in Kenya is more pressing now. This young community is excited about the race as it will lessen their pain."

Run for Peace is open to 500 Kenyan schoolchildren free of charge. Each participant will receive a Shoe4Africa T-shirt and will be asked to wave olive branches throughout the race. All students who finish the fun run will receive school supplies donated by Shoe4Africa. Additionally, Shoe4Africa will be raffling off computer supplies, which will go to one of the participating schools. International athletes, like former Olympic champion Matthew Birir, former three-time world champion Moses Kiptanui, and current three-time world champion Lornah Kiplagat will be in attendance and many others, and local Kenyan dancers will entertain race spectators. Nyandika Maiyoro, the first Kenyan distance runner ever to compete in an Olympic Games, will be the official starter. Wilson Kiprugut, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal, will also officiate.

“We are certain the organization’s Run for Peace event will bring positive awareness to Kenya’s healing process,” said Anthony Edwards, Chairman of Shoe4Africa.

---

---