On the road of life, many are those who carry loads on their weak shoulders. Some of these burdens are not merely physical but also emotional and a majority psychological. Greatness lies in those who chose to bear the loads of others. These people will always find that their hearts are filled with a wondrous feeling of happiness and joy; the real joy out of life.
The founder of Mount Kenya University Professor Simon Gicharu is one of those rare, noble spirits who believe in uplifting the lives of people. The professor knows very well that the best and noblest of all actions is to bring comfort to the comfortless, joy into the lives of the sorrowing and the struggling ones. The benevolent investor believes in responding to people’s needs and providing a helping hand by giving charities and support to countless number of organizations and people.
The professor who is a good friend of the governor of Meru his excellence Hon. DR. Kiraitu Murungi, booked a spot for Mount Kenya University Marathon team for a second time, as one of the sponsors of the Marathon. This was done in a bid to help eradicate Cancer by supporting the construction of a Meru cancer care and research centre. The centre will provide care to cancer patients and promote research on the cancer disease, which is greatly revenging Meru County. In the second championship of Mount Kenya Mountain run, MKU sponsored the event with a cheque of 500,000.
The event attracted close to 5,000 participants including corporates, elite runners, individuals and spectators. As a revitalized way of kicking of sporting activities and adhering to COVID – 19 containment measures as guided by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, the Mount Kenya University Management has stepped up matters sports.
Led by the perspicacious governor, Meru County Government has embarked on the development of the cancer centre as part of its journey to transform and effect good health to the people of Meru and its environs. This is a part of the many transformational programs that the governor has launched with aim of improving livelihoods of those who are worst-affected by social, economic, livelihood, connectivity and infrastructural challenges.
Mt. Kenya Running championship Meru chairman, Joseph Ichunge disclosed that the central government has allocated KShs. 300million to the cancer Institute, besides pledging its support to the planned Sh2.7 billion modern cancer hospital in Meru. The focus in the cancer centre is to create an all-inclusive cancer care and research model and transform it into self-sustainable prototypical model through collaborative and focused efforts with partners of the county like Mount Kenya University. Through the Marathon, the County is also keen to reintroduce Bongo Antelope from Florida, United States and Black Rhino at the Mount Kenya forest.
There is a limit to human endurance and it is determined by the gut, not the mind or muscles. In the spirit of Kipchoge Keino who affirmed that no human is limited, the University Pro Chancellor and vice chair of Mount Kenya university council, Dr. Vincent Gaitho, led the Mount Kenya university corporate team in the race. In his own words the pro-chancellor stated that “My drive came not only from the aspirations of been part of the fundraising to fight cancer but also for the environment conservation efforts ”. He ran the 13km course and conquered the mountain by finishing being among the top corporate category winners.
Following closely was Dr Mwiti Evans who came in after. Dr Evans Mwiti is the DVC in charge of administration planning and institutional advancement at Mount Kenya University. Meru Campus Director Madam Karen Mungania also attended the event taking advantage of it as a critical marketing opportunity for courses for her campus. The three leaders demonstrated that the right place for a leader is not the c-suite but in the cog wheel of action, where a leader must play an active and visible role in the everyday activities of an organization. These world class leaders demonstrated that when you want teams to achieve more, you must fire their enthusiasm, energize them by taking a slice of the heat in the kitchen.
MKU were in deed the shinning gem of the Mountain winning in two major categories. The Mount Kenya university corporate team scooped a trophy for position one while the men’s team settled for a cool second position. Mku triumphantly carried home two trophies and countless medals.
The course of the 13 KM marathon gave its participants a spectacular view of the three main peaks of Mount Kenya namely Lenana, Batian and Nelion. This is undoubtedly the most scenery packed into 13km anywhere in the country, possibly the world. With the heart of Mount Kenya as the main part of this course, athletes got to enjoy 13km of breath-taking views the entire way. The race started and finished at the military training grounds on the slopes of Mount Kenya, allowing spectators and supporters a great opportunity to cheer athletes on.
Once the athlete set off they headed off on rough, winding, meandering terrain full of short and sharp ascents that left them breathless in many ways. The uneven hills gave stunning views of 360 degree of the surrounding area. It was perfectly acceptable to stop and take some photos! A part from the sharp elevations the stunning scenery will stay embedded in the athletes’ memories for a lifetime. In addition to this, the marathon offered its participants a platform for connecting with people, ideas and resources. One of the key takeaways of the race was the opportunity for participants to participate in course that is larger than themselves in supporting cancer eradication in Meru. It is a common truism that, if you want to solve the toughest problems, create the best kind of social impact and serve the society. If this is your spirit, then this is the race for you.
Once again Mount Kenya University proved its self as the legitimate bearer of the name of the great Mountain of God, for all the spirits conspired to ensure they led the Marathon in the corporate team’s categories in unlocking infinite possibilities of kicking out cancer out of Meru and Making Meru great in line with Governor Kiraitus’ Vision.
This event came barely a week after Prof. Gicharu, MKU Co-founder and Chairman Board of directors commissioned a new tennis court and donated sports gears to students at Thika main campus
Karen Mungania appreciated the participation of MKU Meru Campus staff and the University in executing the corporate social responsibility as well as overcoming the overly “tough” terrain. MKU Sponsored two teams (corporate and students elite teams). She urged all stakeholders to join the way to fight cancer.
