6 Nov 2015 – An international 3,500-mile torch relay for peace in Kenya – launched by some of the World’s top athletes with the Aegis Trust in the country’s troubled North Rift Valley in July – reached its conclusion in New York on Monday, following the NYC Marathon, when US ultra-runners Alex Ramsey and Pat Sweeney handed back the torch to marathon superstar Wilson Kipsang at Kenya’s Embassy to the UN. Kipsang then presented the torch to Ambassador Anthony Andanje.

“The Mission here values the partnership between the Aegis Trust and our prominent Kenyan athletes,” commented Ambassador Andanje. “We encourage you to work together, and we think that you can contribute significantly to the communities back in Kenya. Once again, I say thank you to all of you.”

Kipsang, who broke Haile Gebrselassie’s marathon World Record in 2013, helped launch the relay to raise funds for creation of a peace school in northern Kenya, the birthplace of many great runners, where ethnic violence in the last two years has killed hundreds of people and displaced hundred of thousands. Children are being severely affected by the conflict. Over $90,000 has been raised so far. Now the athletes are urging people everywhere to become ‘one in 1000’ helping to raise the $250,000 needed (see www.walkforpeace.co.ke/1000).

“You can be one of the best in the World and run very well, but when you look back at the community, your neighbour is still fighting. There is no peace,” said Wilson Kipsang. “The intention is to build a school on the border [between communities in conflict]. Whereby the children from this community can come, and from this other community can come. Then through the learning process, they can see that, ‘Oh, we have friends. These other people are just like us. There’s no need to fight’. We need Education for Sustainable Peace for our children in the North Rift Valley.”

After a 500-mile journey through the Rift Valley, the ‘torch for humanity’ was passed by Kenyan athletes Stanley Biwott and Mike Kigen to World record-breaking ultra runners Rob Young and Adam Holland in the UK, who carried it 2,200 miles in 25 days around the British Isles. Kenyan stars Sammy Kitwara and Wesley Korir then handed the torch on to US ultra-runners Alex Ramsey and Pat Sweeney ahead of the Chicago Marathon (Oct 11th). Averaging 50 miles a day, their 900-mile sojourn took in the NYC marathon last Sunday.

“It’s brought people together – not only in Kenya,” says Pat Sweeney. “We have the legs to run from Chicago to New York and it’s been our honour to champion the cause for the Aegis Trust to build the school in Kenya.”

Alex Ramsey recalled the impression Kenyan runners first made on him as a child watching the Olympics. “Just admiring the speed and the competition, but also the humility of the Kenyan athlete, that’s where I really developed a strong respect for the country of Kenya,” he said. “So to be presented with this opportunity to give back through the God-given gift of running … it means a lot.”

To support this initiative, give hope to children in northern Kenya and save lives from ethnic violence, why not visit www.walkforpeace.co.ke/1000 and sign up today to raise $250.

US RELAY IN THE MEDIA

Here’s some of the coverage our intrepid US relay team have received along the way during their run from Chicago to New York…

Running Competitor, Nov 3rd

DNAinfo, Nov 1st

VICE Sports, Oct 26th

Ten Junk Miles – Episode 14, Oct 14th

WNDU, Oct 14th

NBC Chicago, Oct 9th

Running Competitor, Oct 8th

Runners World, Oct 8th

DNAinfo, Oct 5th

WGN Radio, Oct 5th