Triumph of our athletes in Denmark inspired me

By MARGARET KENYATTA

We are into the last 10 days of our countdown to the London Marathon and I thank God that my training has so far been flawless!

But not to mean that it has been easy preparing to complete the 42KM in London. It’s been extremely tough, but I will not give up hope in my campaign, through the ‘Beyond Zero’ charity, to offer a better future for our mothers and children.

My main motivation is the plight of these mothers and children.

Research has shown that 5,500 women die every year due to pregnancy and its complications. In addition, 108,000 children die every year before their fifth birthday.

This is a situation that calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders since most of these deaths could be prevented using proven affordable interventions that are available.

There is simply no good reason why thousands of women and children in Kenya should die during child birth today.

This is unacceptable!

I never knew I would come this far and it’s unbelievable, at my age, that I’m actually ready to complete my first marathon!

Besides seeking to address the plight of our mothers and children, I’m also inspired in my cause by the global success stories of our sportsmen and women who continue to conquer the world with their amazing sporting triumphs.

As I continued my training in Sagana last weekend, I was spurred on by the Kenyan victories at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen where our athletes, some of them mothers, swept almost all the medals on offer!

Congratulations to Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor and Gladys Cherono for winning the individual gold medals in the men’s and women’s races in the Danish capital.

Cherono, a 30-year-old mother, led an amazing Kenyan sweep of the first five places in the women’s race and I also congratulate the other top five finishers Mary Wacera, Sally Chepyego, Lucy Kabuu and Mercy Jerotich.

These athletes mirror the resilience and determination of Kenya’s hard-working women who give their best in order to afford their children healthy, happy lives and futures. It is these efforts that we must replicate.

Marathon running is a very Kenyan thing. We are the undisputed kings and queens of distance running, and this was proven, yet again, in Copenhagen last weekend.

It is these global triumphs that pushed my limits and took me out of my comfort zone and something that has got Kenya and the world paying attention.

This is a good way of bringing people together which promotes national cohesion and unity among our people.

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to train with the world’s best, including world record holders in the marathon and half marathon, Wilson Kipsang and Florence Kiplagat respectively.

Both will be competing in the elite races at the London Marathon on April 13 and while I will most certainly never manage to keep up with them on the streets of London, their achievements will spur me on. I have no time targets, as my main target is to finish the race for the sake of the futures of our mothers and children.

And being from Kenya, a nation of marathon runners, I must finish the London Marathon!

It is the success of our athletes and uniquely Kenyan fighting spirit that will most certainly inspire me on April 13 from the start at Greenwich Park to tackle the tough, scenic 2014 London Marathon course through Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, past “Big Ben”, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, down to the finish at The Mall.

I’m more determined than ever to go all the way for the sake of our country’s future generations.

Mrs Kenyatta is the First Lady. Those wishing to make a donation to her ‘Beyond Zero’ charity can do so through The First Lady’s Half Marathon Trust, Equity Bank, Supreme Banking Centre at Equity Centre, Upper Hill, account number 0810262000200. Donations can also be sent through Safaricom Paybill number 500050.