Kenya’s ‘Running CEO’ Sang launches Foundation, seeks to conquer Berlin Marathon

Kenya’s “Running CEO” Joe Sang has now set his sights on clocking a sub three-hour marathon at next month’s BMW Berlin Marathon where he will run for the Joe Sang Foundation that seeks to raise money for the education of needy children countrywide.

The Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director was morning joined by Cabinet Secretaries James Mbadi (Treasury) and Migos Ogamba (Education) alongside Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban in launching the Joe Sang Foundation that aims to raise Sh200 million to help needy children realise their educational dreams.

The 50-year-old who hails from tea growing Kericho County, where many of Kenya's athletics legends hail from, will use the September 21 BMW Berlin Marathon as the focal point of this year's fundraising campaign.

The Foundation is targeting to raise half of the revenue (Sh100 million) before Sang takes to the streets of Berlin.

Sang first dabbled into road running at the Chicago Marathon last year in October, clocking three hours and seven minutes and with cheers ringing from Kenyan legends who have competed and conquered the Berlin course, Sang is now targeting to stop the clock in less than three hours in the German political capital.

Sang – also an avid golfer – recently clocked a personal best one hour, 31 minutes and 04 seconds at the Nairobi City Marathon, running alongside training partner John Terer, Managing Director and proprietor of motor sales company, Car City. Terer will also accompany Sang to run in the Berlin Marathon.

German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth joined a host of dignitaries in lauding the initiative and pledged to donate sports equipment to the Kapmaso Primary School and Kapmaso Secondary School in Kericho County where the initial beneficiaries of the Joe Sang Foundation charity are schooling.

“Kenya and Germany have enjoyed a great relationship first since most Kenyans, at least in more advanced ages, identify with the ‘Football made in Germany’ programme of the 1980s. It warms my heart to hear them talk about German football and give facts which even I don't know about,” Ambassador Groth joked about Kenya-Germany sporting links.

“Kenyan athletes have made Berlin their base for breaking the world marathon record and I'm confident that Sang will equally break his personal record there," Ambassador Groth added.

Former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau, who represented immediate former National Olympic Committee of Kenya President Paul Tergat, and Paralympian Henry Wanyoike willed Sang to go forth and conquer Berlin.

"The reason why most Kenyan athletes perform well in Berlin is because of altitude which near sea level and the streets are well shielded from strong winds by the tall buildings lining up the streets. It is the perfect place for you to break your record," Makau, who set the world record at two hours, three minutes and 38 seconds at the 2011 Berlin Marathon, remarked.

He represented another former world marathon record holder, Tergat, the first man to run a sub 2:05 marathon when he clocked 2:04:55 at the 2003 Berlin Marathon.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ogamba, whose docket is a direct beneficiary of the Joe Sang Foundation, expressed his delight at the charitable initiative having been a beneficiary of such acts of kindness while growing up.