Outreach Kenya hosts 1st 5K run to benefit Africa

The Outreach Kenya Development Volunteers will host its first Open 5k run Saturday to benefit the Neighbors in Action organization of West Kenya. The event is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the IU cross country course. \nThe race will begin at 10 a.m., and the entry fee is $10. Men and women finishing at the head of the pack will receive prize money, with first place winners receiving $150, second place $75 and third place $50. \nOutreach Kenya’s co-director and senior Erica Weyer said she believes the event will be beneficial to both those affected by poor conditions in Kenya and those participating in the Bloomington run.\n“It’s important in that it will bring greater awareness of the plight of people affected with HIV and AIDS (in Africa) to the Bloomington community and help raise money for our remarkable partner organization,” Weyer said. \nThe money raised goes to the Neighbors in Action, an organization that works on community development projects in West Kenya, such as helping support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, educating people about HIV/AIDS and giving community members agricultural training. \nJunior Jeff Coover, Outreach Kenya’s promotion assistant, said he believes IU students and Bloomington residents can really make an impact on the lives of those in West Kenya by donating a few hours of their Saturday mornings. \n“I hope that people reading the IDS know how important the struggle against HIV/AIDS in Africa is and how easily they can help by running in this event,” Coover said. \nOutreach Kenya Development Volunteers was started by IU alumnus Hank Selke nearly 10 years ago after he returned from volunteering with an HIV/AIDS education program in Kenya and felt compelled to involve other IU students in his efforts to better the lives of the people in that country.