Gideon Gathimba gives back after success on track

They earn millions of shillings while participating in various races round the world.

But despite pumping their millions to only enrich their lives, a number of athletes, especially in the North Rift region, have decided to give back to the society.

They do this by improving the lives of some of their poor supporters who wildly cheer them as they conquer the world on the track and in road races.

On such athlete is Gideon Gathimba, whose foundation has already completed the construction of decent homes for five families in parts Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

The foundation also pays school fees for tens of children in primary and secondary schools in the region. Together with his friend, Myles Edwards from Scotland, the athlete has touched the lives of many in the region through their ‘Gathimba Edwards Foundation.’

Gathimba, is a 1,500 metres runner and was part of the team that set a 4x1,500m world record of 14 minutes 36.23 seconds at the Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meeting in 2009.

Myles is Scotland’s national champion over 1,500m. Among the families relishing their new life is that of Margaret Chirchir, a mother of seven who lives in Kibendo village in Kerio Valley. 

For the past 23 years, she has lived, with her children, in a grass thatched, mud-walled and earthen floor house.

Last week, however, her life changed for the better, when she moved into her new three bedroomed house. Each of the houses, Gathimba says, costs about Sh400,000 to construct.

“I have been living here for the past 23 years and though my neighbours often laughed at our state of living, I always believed that God will one day answer my prayers,” said Mrs Chirchir, fighting back tears.

Three of her children in secondary school have had their fee paid for a whole year. The other five are in primary school. Early this year, the foundation bought her maize seeds and fertilizer.

“As you can see, I am set to harvest well this year,” she says pointing to her maize field.

Margaret’s tribulations got worse when her 17-year-old daughter was sent home from a local high school due to lack of fee and got pregnant five months later.

“When we arrived here, seven children were sleeping on the mud floor and smoke was bellowing. It was a rainy season and my heart wept that these children could fall sick,” said Myles in an interview.

“It is always very important that anyone who lives in a decent house and drives a car, to try helping that neighbour who is struggling,” Wilson Kipsang, the former world marathon record holder, says.

Kipsang spent some of his recent Berlin Marathon earnings in finishing his local Mindiliwo AIC Church in Iten. According to Gathimba, each family is helped according to what they ask for. 

“For Margaret, we paid school fees for children, built her a house and ensured that she has food to feed her family.” About 10 friends of the foundation from Scotland did the construction. 

These are individuals with basic skill in carpentry and masonry. At the moment, the foundation is paying school fees for over 240 children in Central, North Rift and Western Kenya.