Stone Master Marathoners running club, in conjunction with Girlguiding Stone Outward Division, has donated brand new running tops to children in a Kenyan village near Mombasa.
The donation was made possible through collaboration with Girlguiding Stone Outward Division, which has been working to improve the lives of underprivileged children in the area.
The Girlguiding Stone Outward Division has been working alongside communities near Mombasa on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast for over two decades, improving the lives of underprivileged children, including orphans.
The division has been supported by the annual Stone St. Michael’s 10K road race, which has been one of their chief fundraisers. When Stone Master Marathoners found themselves with about 60 brand new running tops going spare, it was only natural for the running community to step up again.
“I came home one night, and my husband had taken this box with all these running shirts!” said project leader Maureen Recine, who took the tops out to the school in the farming village of Kididima. “Now all the children have P.E. kit. It was such a surprise. They couldn’t believe it. We appreciate the support.”
For the running club, it was a happy outcome after a batch of tops had arrived off from the official clubs colours. “We feel proud as a club to support our communities, both local and further afield. It felt right to send these items to those who needed them, and with our members’ connections with the guides and their work in Africa, it made perfect sense,” said kit manager Ellie Evans. “If a gesture like this inspires one person to inspire their own community, then it’s absolutely worth it.”
Despite its intimidating name, Stone Master Marathoners is open to anyone who wants to run at any level. Maureen Recine hopes that one day a Kenyan will come and join the local running community in the Stone 10K race. Given Kenya’s brilliant running tradition, that could be an inspiring sight. And who knows – maybe it will be one of the Kididima children leading the pack.
