Kilimanjaro Marathon

This past weekend was the Kilimanjaro 5K/Half Marathon/Marathon. I participated in the 5K with a few other volunteers from CCS. We all formed a team through one of their placements called Upendo Artist Association. We were Team Upendo (in swahili, upendo means "love").

UPENDO ARTIST ASSOCIATION (UPAA) is a registered non profit organization (NGO) caring for the children and families across Africa. UPENDO ARTIST ASSOCIATION was established in the United Republic of Tanzania Africa, based at the bottom of Mount Kilimanjaro in the Kilimanjaro region. The organization is working to inspire children, orphans, disabled, woman (mothers), people with disease and illness, through arts education and art projects to create income for themselves - creations like paintings, jewelry, performance arts, clothes and more. A key vision at UPENDO ARTIST ASSOCIATION is to help the African community, especially women and children, to help themselves, make changes to their life and to help raise funds and donations, form a woman connection through out towns, villages and counties of Africa to help each other.

The marathon started at 6:30am, the half marathon started at 7am, and the 5K started at 7:30am. It was amazing to see people from all over the world who had come to participate in the races. It was such a beautiful morning that as we were lining up to begin, there was a wonderful view of Mount Kilimanjaro in front of us. So pretty!

I walked most of the 5K because the other volunteers and I were walking with local blind children who may not have been able to participate without us. They all did a wonderful job and were so excited to be there.

Upendo Runners : )

It was such a fun day with lots of festivities. There were many tents set up in the stadium after the races to promote business and sell souvenirs. It was a great day and Team Upendo did an amazing job!

CCS Participants