Speaking about the virtual challenge, Kipchoge said, “I would like to send my sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in last year’s Virtual Lewa Safari Marathon. Let us press on and run as one for the second year in a row. If we run together, we can conserve the environment, empower and equip our rangers and take care of our wildlife.“
Kipchoge was joined on the run by beneficiaries of the race from the surrounding community conservancies and six-time Lewa Safari Marathon champion, Philemon Baaru, as well as rangers from the Conservancy and Tusk’s Director of Programmes Sarah Watson.
The team ran 10km through Lewa’s stunning landscape on a partial loop of the marathon course, with herds of elephant and other species including rhino, dotting the course.
The annual Lewa Safari Marathon is one of the most iconic and admired routes in the world. Dubbed one of the top 10 marathons on the planet by Runner’s World, it has become one of Kenya’s major sporting events, and a major fundraiser for Tusk’s projects in the region. To date the event has raised over £7.5 million (more than $10 million) for conservation in Africa.
But for a second year, it has again been cancelled due to Covid. In its place, people are encouraged to join the Virtual Lewa Safari Marathon by running or walking 5km, 10km, a half marathon or marathon wherever they are in the world. You can split your distance across multiple days, or join in for the big event on 26th June, when supporters across the globe will run together for Africa’s wildlife. All funds raised will go towards recovering from the impact that Covid-19 has had on wildlife and local communities in Kenya.