Updates

Runners, walkers and volunteers turned Lavington Mall into a wave of hope. Here's a look back — and what's next.

Thank you. Saturday 19 September was our inaugural Run for Hope, and the energy carried from the first warmup to the last finisher.

Across the 21K, 10K, 5K and Community Walk, participants moved for one reason: to make speaking about mental health normal, and to raise resources for youth-led wellness programmes across Kenya. Every bib, every medal, every finisher photo was a small act of advocacy.

We are still reconciling participant numbers, finish times and funds raised against our event records, so we are not publishing a headcount yet. When that reconciliation is done, the full results and photos will appear here — alongside our first Impact Report. In the meantime, follow updates if you'd like to join the community walk, volunteer, or be first to know when the next cause-driven run opens its bibs.

Our inaugural field is sold out. Follow the training journey, join updates and plan to cheer or volunteer on race day.

Thanks to an incredible response, every slot for Run for Hope Kenya 2026 is now booked. It's the start of something big for sport-for-social-impact in Kenya.

A sold-out field means momentum: race-day volunteers, cheer squads at the finish line and a community that keeps the conversation going long after the last medal is handed out.

Can't run? You can still make a difference: donate to youth-led mental-health initiatives, volunteer on course side, or tell someone about the cause.

Physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and support overall wellbeing — and it works even better together.

The evidence is consistent: regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve sleep, build confidence and give people a reason to connect. It is a contributor to wellbeing, not a substitute for clinical care.

But the real magic is community. Running and walking with others breaks isolation — one of the biggest risk factors for poor mental wellbeing. That's why every Run for Hope distance, from the Community Walk to the 21K, is designed to be social, joyful and accessible.

Your participation is a visible statement: speaking about mental health is normal, and nobody has to struggle in silence.

Six weeks out. Here's a simple, beginner-friendly progression no matter which distance you chose.

Start where you are and build slowly. Three run-walk sessions a week is plenty.

- 5K: walk 3 min, jog 2 min, repeat. Add 1 minute of jogging each week.

- 10K: build to a 30-minute continuous effort, then extend by 10% weekly.

- 21K: follow a 4-week plan — long run on weekends, easy pace weekday runs, one rest day after every hard day.

Hydrate well, sleep 7+ hours, and don't skip rest. Consistency beats intensity every time. See you at the start line — walkers and runners alike!