July 1– Canada’s 144th Birthday! And this year CES took the party to Kakamega. The Canada Day Run for Charity was hosted by CES Kenya on the grounds of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). Runners from the 17 Schools associated with CES Canada competed for prizes in this first ever run for charity. Sponsored by Canadians, our students ran to create scholarships for needy youth.
“Kids Running for Kids” for Kakamega a first. Youth who had received the gift of education ran for those whose hope was waiting.
CES Canada Volunteers Sandy and John Guthrie, Karen and Vaughn Dahl from Thunder Bay, Ontario as well as elite Kenyan runner Gilbert Kiptoo coordinated the event. Sandy and Karen had been in Kenya since late May promoting the run and training youth in running techniques. Athletic footwear and running attire previously donated through New Balance, Thunder Bay Metre Eaters Running Club, Ontario Coastbusters and CES Canada provided much needed support for Kenyan athletes. The Canada Running Series provided space and a booth for CES Canada at the Harry’s Spring Run-off and the Sporting Life 10K. 120 pairs of excellent running shoes were donated and delivered to Kenya in time for the Canada Day Run.
Sandy Guthrie writes in her blog:
“Got to the site at 8:30am and there were already two teams sitting and waiting for us. Every one of us had jobs to do and we were busy putting up banners, Canada flags, and setting up the registration table.
The teams arrived en masse, in matatus and in buses, bicycles – many walked. Some of them sang as they came. Some in uniform, some not. Barefoot, heavy school shoes, flip-flops or runners, it mattered not.
Karen and Vaughn got busy at the registration table, as we had to enter every one of them manually one-by-one. Four CES Kenya Board members greeted the teams. Gilbert was handing out Canada Day buttons and talking to the kids. John was talking to the volunteer marshalls (Scouts) about their jobs and white washing the course. They call the lime that we used to put arrows on the ground for direction “white wash”.
With the race supposed to start at 11 am, I looked up at the line waiting to register at 10am and saw that it was 100 deep still!
Gilbert took whoever had already registered for a run/walk around the course for familiarization, and then led them in some stretching. We had hired some traditional drummers, and they started to play after I had given them 4 free hats and a small stipend. These young entrepreneurs were no older than 20. Just the same, they added to the event.
Everyone wanted a red Canada hat! Thanks to Fresh Air for donating them. When we ran out we gave them ours. Once we got them all registered, I welcomed them and Gilbert spoke about how to run the race. We walked them over to the start line, and got it started pretty much on time (for Kenya) at 12 noon. Gilbert was the pacer for everyone, and he had to speak firmly to all at the start line about no pushing or shoving and that the girls should move in behind in the second row. John tried to tell them “you don’t win the race on the start line”, but that had no effect.
Imagine 174 runners all trying to be on the front row. I had planned to say: “On your mark, get set”, and then blow the whistle. By the word set, the race had started and they were off!!
After the first loop, everyone left was busy getting to the finish line together. We got the chute ready and at 15:20 minutes after the start, the first boy finished – in bare feet!! Gilbert was with him all the way, and did a god job of pacing him. Everyone finished in under 30 minutes, and we were ready to move to the awards and draw prizes.
All the board members helped give out the awards. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for boys and girls; the fastest overall school team and the fastest girls team. We also had a special award for each of the board members, thanks to Thunder Bay’s Marcel Donio on behalf of the Ojibway (or Red Indians, as they are called here.)
Each student competitor received water, soda and a loaf of bread. It was all eaten. The draw prizes were a real hit. Students took the shoes first (smart), and when someone chose the suitcase that all the prizes had come in – everyone cheered!
Thank you everyone who supported us in this great event, from the sponsorship to the donations of shoes and clothing, the banner from the Thunder Bay Metre Eaters and New Balance bibs and singlets. This would not happened without you!!
Read more from Sandy’s blog: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sandyg55/1/1309735868/tpod.html#ixzz1U0OjCV1G
