SIMULTANEOUS BI CONTINENTAL RACE BETWEEN LONG ISLAND AND KENYA

Race 2006 - The second annual Kenya/USA Bi Continental Run was held on May 23. 110 runners in Meru, Kenya, and 32 runners in Shoreham, New York started off simultaneously at 9 AM in the USA and 4 PM in Kenya over the 3.1 mile cross country course.

The Kenyans had the benefit of a sunny afternoon, while the Americans faced a driving rain and gusting winds. Conditions were so bad that HCF board member Mwangi Njagi became lost in the woods and ran an extra 8 miles before a good samaritan returned him to the starting line.

Amazingly, the Americans eked out a victory over their Kenyan competitors. 22 year old Brookhaven, Long Island resident Sean Hopkins was the overall winner with his time of 17 minutes, 27 seconds, just 32 seconds faster than 20 year old Vincent Mwenda of Meru. 36 year old Megan Holden of Sound Beach bested 40 year old Juliah Mwirigi, the winning Kenyan female, by 51 seconds, with her time of 19 minutes, 7 seconds.

Race participants and their supporters on Long Island raised over $3,000 to support our Home, and our Kenyan friends raised over $1,500, enough to pay the salaries of our social worker and one of our house mothers for the better part of a year.

All proceeds went to HOPE CHILDREN'S FUND, to provide for AIDS affected and other street children in Meru, Kenya, East Africa.