You may remember that this time last year we
were collecting unwanted athletic kit to send to young runners in Africa. Brad
Poore was planning to spend some time in Somalia, teaching English and
linking up with some of the young runners whom he had met on an earlier
trip. These guys have tremendous potential but have to make do with
the most battered running shoes you can imagine.
Your
response was tremendous. It started with many in our teams passing
over their unwanted kit but escalated when adidas came up with some
gear and some of the good people at Legal & General got to hear
of it and also chipped in.
Brad's
plans were changed due to hostilities in the Middle East. He
had to go down to Kenya where he stayed at the Marathon Training Camp for
four months. Eventually we were able to send out the trainers and
t-shirts and Brad distributed some of them among his Kenyan friends.
Finally he was permitted to get back to Somalia for a brief time and
his young training partners are now using the shoes we sent them and
looking to make their mark in this wonderful global sport of athletics.
All pictures by Brad Poore, who is now back in California. No doubt we'll see him again before long.
Above: Kenyan Julius Maritim checks out his shoes prior to a run.
Ibrahim Hussein, Zeituni Hussein, and Mbarak
Hussein. Zeituni treated Brad like her own son for the four months he was
there. There was not a single need that he had that she did not graciously
meet and he always felt safe knowing that she was looking out for him.
Ibrahim, of course, was also incredible. It was he who allowed Brad to
stay in his camp with the national marathon team.