Children Run With the Stars!
CHILDREN RUN WITH THE STARS
Young people from lower, middle, upper and
special schools from across the borough flocked to Bedford Park, on
Monday 23rd April, to take part in a once in a lifetime
opportunity – to run alongside world class Kenyan athletes, Philip
Langat and Shadrack Kosgei. The athletes were making a fleeting
visit to the U.K in order to take part in the 2012 Virgin London
Marathon.
The event, organised by the Kenyan Community
and Bedford Borough Council, witnessed approximately 600 children,
across the day, jogging alongside the renowned athletes, to “run a
Golden Mile” around the park. The Council’s Sports Development Team
had been working with 24 borough schools, over a ten week period,
in order to prepare them for the occasion.
Also present on the day were a host of local
sports professionals and personalities, including octogenarian
runner Iva Barr, who has been selected to carry the Olympic Torch
through Bedford on the 8th July; she has already started
practicing, running with her arm in the air!
The marathon runners and Kenyan Community had
established a close relationship with Bedford since 2010, when the
Kenya Athletics Kenya Chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, and Mayor of
Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, signed a Memorandum of Understanding
between Bedford and Kenya following a week-long visit to Bedford by
a group of world-renowned athletes. The agreement advanced
educational, cultural, business and sporting ties.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "We were extremely fortunate to host
these inspirational athletes in Bedford the day after the London
Marathon, and huge credit is due to Kenyan Community Bedford and to
all the staff and volunteers on the day for making it all happen
for the children. It was fantastic to see so many children and
young people from schools across the Borough enjoying the event.
Many of them had watched these fantastic athletes on the television
just the day before, and then found themselves running alongside
them the very next day. I am sure it was an experience that will
stay with them for a long time, and I want to give special thanks
to all of the athletes and sportspeople who gave their time and
enthusiasm to help make it a great day for so many youngsters.”
The Chairman of the Kenyan Community in Bedford, Jack Waiyaki,
said marathon runners and the Athletic Kenya officials had agreed
to take part in the community event, so as to help enthuse young
people and increase their participation in physical activities and
sports.