The 2014 Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mercy Cherono and reigning world 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Chelimo are hopeful of a productive 2023 athletics season.
Speaking in Eldoret after visiting ailing children at the Shoe4Africa Children’s hospital, the duo said that they had a good season in 2022 and are hopeful of a similar display especially at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Cherono, a former world junior 3,000m champion, said: “As athletes from 2Running Club, we come here every year to put a smile on the kids. Building this hospital was good idea. We have had a million children treated here since the hospital's inception,” said Cherono.
"I have had the best year in my running career. I want to do more next year,” said Chelimo.
Shoe4Africa CEO Toby Tanser said that Eldoret is famous for running and to have a hospital associated with athletes is a great move.
“As we speak, the 2Running Club has adopted the hospital because runners come here every single year and that is why we have a big screen mounted in the second floor courtesy of you athletes," said Tanser.
"Today, the athletes have brought something to put a smile on their (children's) faces. And with this great atmosphere, the children will play and forget about their pain.”
The hospital, according to Tanser, also has a football pitch and a basketball court where the ailing kids play.
