Henry Wanyoike Hope Run targets 20,000

Henry Wanyoike Hope Run targets 20,000

Plans are on top gear for this year’s tenth running of the Henry Wanyoike Hope for Future Run that is set for June 4 at the Alliance High School grounds in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County.

The race is organized by double Paralympics 5000m and 10000m record holder on track also in the marathon when he ran 2:31:31 at the 2005 Hamburg race; Henry Wanyoike, said this year will bring more excitement as the big shots in athletics will grace the event whose theme is Peace and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

The race has five categories, Children from the age of six to 12 and Veterans over 45 years will participate in the 2km run while juniors from the ages of 13-17 and the seniors from the age of 17- 44 years will run 8km which will be the culmination of the event.

Last year there were 15,000 participants in different categories and this year Wanyoike is expecting to host 20,000.

Winners of the main 8km road races will pocket Ksh15, 000.

“We are rewarding all the winners from number one to 10 in order to motivate more participants as we plan to move change this road race to a Half Marathon in future,” the founder underpinned.

“I’m focusing on sensitization of the community to maintain peace through all the political, social and economic activities as a build up towards the forth coming elections and on importance of inclusion of people with disabilities on societal issues.

“I’m happy to announce that Hon Isaac Mwaura will grace the event to sensitize and enhance the importance of people living with disabilities in the society,” the famous blind athlete added.

He is the founder of the Henry Wanyoike Foundation, which supports various aid projects and is also the initiator of the Hope for the Future Run.

“We started a teaching programme to support needy pupils from the school around my hometown Kikuyu, and so far we are sponsoring 75 pupils under the Teresiah House of Hope and another 10 students in different secondary schools,” the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympics champion explained.

He also initiated other programs to plant trees and donating 100 wheelchairs and 400 walking sticks.

“So far we have been able to plant 5000 seedlings in all schools in Kikuyu Constituency and I have been visiting schools giving motivational talks,”  Wanyoike said.

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athletics Henry Wanyoike Hope for Future Run Henry Wanyoike

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