Three volunteers are running and walking in the 2017 Vancouver Sun Run to raise funds for bright, very poor students in Kenya, E. Africa, where high school is not free. KEEF Board member and April 23rd walker, Susan Peake, says “We are helping KEEF (Kenya Education Endowment Fund) build scholarship funds by taking part in the Sun Run. Many of the students who receive financial help to cover tuition, books and other costs to attend high school in the Kakamega region of western Kenya are from subsistence farming households that cope on the equivalent of $2-$3 a day. It is far beyond their means to save or raise the $600 a year needed to go to high school. We hope that readers will support our efforts by making a pledge at 604-415-9397 or shelaghag@shaw.ca or send a donation – marked “for Sun Run volunteers” or naming one of the three participants specifically – by cheque payable to KEEF, mailed c/o 904 – 2135 Argyle Ave. W. Vancouver V7V 1A5 or at our website (www.kenyaeducation.org ). 100% of donations designated for Sun Run volunteers will go to high school scholarships in Kenya.”
Susan Peake, two of the six feet participating for KEEF, is a recently retired Instructor from Capilano University. She lives in downtown Vancouver and will be walking the 10Km. The second pair of “six feet for students” is Vanessa Krug’s. Vanessa, who works at Fitness 2000 in Burnaby and lives near SFU, will be running in the event. Vanessa is an SFU grad, currently taking advanced studies in forensics, part time at BCIT. In 2012, Vanessa volunteered in Tanzania for two months on a project with another Canadian charity. “This helped me understand the importance of education as a route out of poverty in Africa.” The third pair of feet for KEEF at the 2017 Sun Run is those of Leighla Claydon of west side Vancouver. A Barre fitness instructor at Dailey Method, Vancouver and a personal trainer, Leighla is a Langara alum. She is running for the first time in the Sun Run. “I volunteered to run because I want more people to know the impact of KEEF in western Kenya. Education creates leaders who will then create needed change in their communities”
KEEF currently funds some 90 high school students and about 40 post-secondary students in Kenya (see www.kenyaeducation.org). While some are sponsored by one person or household, others are funded jointly by a group of relatives or friends or through a service club. “Some sponsors do so with a payment each month, making funding an annual scholarship more manageable for them”, Ms. Peake said.
“People can also make a donation – of any amount – to the Student Support Fund. This is sometimes done as a gift to celebrate a graduation, retirement, birthday or other special event. (KEEF can supply gift cards for Student Support donations.) These smaller gifts, combined with those from other people, can make the difference in being able to remain in school or not. Tax-deductible receipts are available for all donations – including those in support of KEEF’s volunteer runners and walker in the 2017 Sun Run.“
Thank you! – Asante Sana! on behalf of KEEF and the secondary students in Kenya we will assist with your support of our ‘six feet for students’ at the April 23rd Vancouver Sun Run.
Questions about KEEF’s work? Visit the website www.kenyaeducation.org
