By Jessica Perkins

November 8, 2011

Local Runners Bring Orphans in Kenya One Step Closer to Defeating Poverty

On Saturday, November 19, participants in Paducah’s One World Run will go 5 kilometers, (approximately 3.1 miles) at Bob Noble Park in order to provide for the needs of orphans in Kenya. Those few miles will bring the children in a small village in Kenya one step closer to escaping poverty.

Here’s how it all works. Project AIDS Orphan, with the help of generous corporate sponsorships, will donate nearly all of the funds raised from runners’ registration fees at the One World Run to benefit the children that the organization sponsors in Kenya. Funds raised will help provide for basic things such as school fees and school uniforms allowing these kids to receive an education.

Children will receive medical care including preventative, acute and long term care for chronic conditions. Funds will also help to provide food supplements for the children. All of these things that most Americans take for granted are invaluable to the children in this Kenyan village.

Project AIDS Orphan’s One World Run has grown into an international event that has been held on 6 continents, 9 countries and 18 cities. The event continues to grow as more runners bring the event to their own communities across the globe. If you’d like to participate outside of Paducah, it is very simple. Register for the race on their website and pay the entry fee. On the day of the race, runners from around the world get together in their respective cities, states, countries and continents to participate. You may participate as an individual, or organize a group to run for this great cause.

The event is open to walkers and runners of all ages. Children are encouraged to participate in The One World Run in a 1-mile run for those under the age of 14. Fastest runners in all categories will receive awards within their age and gender brackets. All participants will receive a race medallion, designed and made by former Paducah artist, Kathleen Kelly. Kelly has also done medallions for such events as the Big Sur Marathon in Carmel, CA.

“Project AIDS Orphan grew out of a working relationship between two men, one Kenyan and the other American,” explains a representative of the organization. “David Okong’o and Paul Bilak, nurse practitioners, worked together in Kijabe, Kenya, and surrounding rural clinics for two years before joining efforts, with their wives, to assist a small group of children from a rural community near Lake Victoria.’

“It is here that some years ago, Mr. Okong’o had the dream of building an atypical orphanage where children could be cared for in their home village by surviving relatives.”

Project AIDS Orphan’s moto is “The good news is…it’s easy to help.” And it really is. The organization offers opportunities throughout the year for people in Paducah to join in the fight against poverty and illness in Kenya. Watch for upcoming projects and events, including their Christmas Catalog and Hunger Banquets.

In fact, the organization is working on a new event which will help bring awareness to the challenges Kenyans face in the economic and health related problems created by malaria. This spring will be the first time the organization has organized the event, Sleep Out to Stop Malaria, which is an overnight camp-out in which participants will sleep under mosquito nets.

Those interested in participating in this year’s One World Run can pre-register online. Sign up before November 16 and the cost to participate is $25. Same day registration will also be available for $30. Registration ends at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the run. The 5K run begins at 9 a.m. Children under 14 will run 1 mile starting at 10 a.m. Runners should meet at Shelter 10 in Bob Noble Park.

For more information about how to become a sponsor for Project AIDS Orphan or to become more involved in their upcoming events, please visit their website.