The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon expands to Kakamega, Kenya

The team arrived at our destination

Thanks to everyone who supported our “remote” TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, held in the city of Kakamega, Kenya on 1 October 2022 

I travelled to Kenya in late September for seven days on the ground there. There were three reasons: (1) to renew relationships with our Kenyan partners, (2) interview students and alumni and video-record how CES has helped them as part of our fundraising, and (3) to participate in a virtual version of the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Walking through central Kakamega towards the Divine Providence Orphanage

Members of the CES Alumni team were fully registered as Marathon participants, and all had some donations to CES made in their name.

A total of 11 CES Alumni, students and one Canadian covered the 10K route, walking from the CES office in Kakamega to the Divine Providence Orphanage just outside Kakamega, and back again. Along the way, they shared the route with matatus, tuk-tuks, boda-bodas, cane trucks and other vehicles.

The purpose of the walk was three-fold – to raise money for the CES scholarship fund, to support the DPO, and to give our Alumni a chance to reconnect after being unable to meet during the COVID pandemic.

CES has long had a history of supporting the DPO, and in previous years our Alumni and volunteers have made many visits there to donate food, play games with the children, and provide care and encouragement. So, in planning the Kakamega version of the marathon, we decided to continue that tradition. We asked the DPO leadership what they needed most, and they said “chairs.” 

So, Sarah Nabongo, CES Administrative Assistant, sourced 20 good quality used plastic chairs, and those were delivered to the DPO. These were presented by the CES Alumni in memory of former CES volunteer Vaughn Dahl.

We also provided some sacks of flour, rice and other staples. To give the children a treat, we provided some cases of soft drinks, and some packages of cookies, which we shared with the children when we were there.

This was the first time our Alumni have met in person since the start of COVID, so there was much catching-up to do during the walk and over lunch afterwards.

CES Administrative Assistant Sarah Nabongo, left, greets the children of the orphanage.

Many people generously supported the walk through sponsoring our participants. Some members of the CES Canada board plan to participate in the Marathon, either in-person in Toronto, or in another ‘virtual’ location.

(Note: Carl Friesen covered his own travel costs to and from Kenya.)

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Please consider sponsoring any of the CES team members who are registered for the walk – click here to see a list.