This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On December 2, 2019, Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi launched the inaugural Mt Kenya Mountain Running Championships, a fundraising event aimed at promoting the region as a tourist and investment hub while raising funds for cancer research.
The event, themed ‘Challenging the Heights’, will feature four events: a 2km family fun run, 6km and 8km junior runs, and a 12km elite race through the challenging Mount Kenya forest tracks.
According to a report presented to the National Assembly by the National Cancer Institute in June, Meru is one of the 11 counties with a high prevalence of cancer, with men and women at a higher risk of prostate and breast cancer respectively.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Murungi stated, ‘The Mt. Kenya Mountain Running Championships is a great way for participants to combine passion for sport, test boundaries, and have fun. The whole purpose is to be able to scale Mount Kenya up to 3000m with our main aim to raise funds for three courses majorly the fight against cancer which has been a major problem in our county.’
The event is expected to attract 5000 participants and spectators, with the winner of the elite 12km race set to bag Sh500,000, while the first runner-up will take home Sh250,000, and the second runner-up will settle for Sh100,000.
Organizers have appealed for sponsors to come on board and support the course, with proceeds to be used to fund the establishment of the Meru Cancer Center at the Meru Level 5 Hospital and a sanctuary for the mountain Bongos and Rhinos.
