Boonies Shoe Donation Program

Comment

Comment by Boonies on October 1, 2009 at 11:14am

Due to the generous donation from Mike and Monette Hopton of Fair Hope, Alabama, we also sent Jackton Wasiema, who is currently living in Nairobi, Kenya, three boxes of shoes, T-shirts, and medals. Boonies first learned about Jackton from Edit Berces, a Hungarian national Ultramarathon champion who also receives and disperses shoe shipments. Jackton and several of his athlete friends were dislocated by the civil unrest in Kenya last year. At that time, Boonies helped him out by sending shoes and clothing. Due to instability in Kenya, Jackton has been competing locally the last year and a half, winning events in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. With his proceeds, he is currently assisting 20 athletes. Here are some of the goals Jackton is helping his friends meet: keep them away from drugs and vices such as thuggery (his terminology); look out for means to help them get an education; nurture, groom and tap athletic talents; make them better people in the society; and empower them with life skills.

Please see the photos of Jackton and one of the training sessions with his runners.

Here are some highlights from Jackton’s resume:

Marathon best in France 1997 – 2:13:17

Half-marathon best in Germany 2002 – 1:01:48

10K in Rome (Vatican City) in 2002 - 28:35

Winner Budapest Marathon (Hungary) 2004, 2005, 3rd place 2006Winner Valencia Marathon (Spain) – 1999, 2002

Winner Hegau International Half- marathon in Germany – 20022nd place Chantilly Marathon (France) - 2000

3rd place Regensburg Marathon (Germany) - 2002

Other top four finishes in international marathon and half from 1997-2002.

Several wins in U.S. events in 2003 from 5k to ½ marathon