Thirteen young men from Starehe Boys Centre have today resumed their remarkable 1,100-kilometre charity cycling challenge, setting off from Nairobi for the final leg of their journey to Mombasa after completing the first stretch from Busia to the capital.
The riders, who arrived in Nairobi on Monday 10August after cycling through several counties, spent Tuesday resting and recovering at Starehe Boys Centre before returning to the road this morning. Their journey will take them through the final stretch of the country as they work towards completing the challenge and raising KSh 10 million for the Starehe Boys Centre education fund. The team began the biking challenge a week ago, on Monday 3July.
The Dr. Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon honours the legacy of the late Geoffrey Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys Centre and a lifelong champion of education and opportunity for young people. For the riders, the journey has already been about much more than kilometres.
“This is a character-building adventure. In class, you learn many things theoretically, but on the road, you experience them for yourself. You learn resilience, focus, preparation and what it means to stay on task and keep moving towards a goal. Life is not always a smooth road, and this journey is teaching the boys how to navigate the ups and downs and still make it to the end,” said Ian Hicho, Technical Director and Team Coach and an Old Starehian.
Hicho said the riders had undergone months of physical and mental preparation ahead of the challenge, including long-distance training designed to prepare them for the demands of cycling approximately 100 kilometres each day.
“You cannot just wake up and ride 1,100 kilometres. The preparation started months ago, with physical training, long-distance rides and mental preparation. We needed the boys to get used to the idea of riding 100 kilometres a day, because on this journey, you have to do it again the next day,” he said.
The first leg tested the riders against changing road conditions, traffic, hills, heat and fatigue, but the team has remained determined to complete the challenge together.
“The biggest lessons for me are determination and resilience. There are moments when you feel like giving up, especially when climbing the hills, but you remember why you started and you keep going,” said Fidel Alfred Odhiambo, a Form Three student and returning Bikeathon participant.
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For team captain Ian Stanley, the experience has also provided an opportunity to develop leadership skills beyond the classroom. “Being team captain means making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be, that the bikes are in order and that the team moves together. It has taught me that leadership is not just about being in front; it is about making sure everyone gets to the destination,” he said.
For the younger riders, completing the journey safely remains the ultimate goal. “When we reach Mombasa, it will mean that we have achieved the goal we set for ourselves: getting everyone there safely and helping raise funds for Starehe. I want us to finish what we started and make sure the purpose of the Bikeathon continues,” said Marklus Kazungu, a Grade 10 student.
The Bikeathon is being supported by partners including Vivo Energy Kenya, whose Shell service station network has provided stopover points, refreshments, logistical assistance and support to the riders along the route. Reflecting on his experience at Starehe Boys Centre as a former student, Mark Senteu, Commercial Manager at Vivo Energy Kenya said, “The most important principle running the world we live in today is reciprocity, and the Bikeathon is a great example of partnerships powered by reciprocity. Education and youth empowerment are an important part of our sustainability agenda, and through partnerships like this, we are able to give back to communities while creating shared value beyond our business.”
The partnership reflects a broader focus on supporting young people, strengthening communities and creating opportunities through collaboration. The challenge is also supported by emergency response teams from St. John’s Ambulance providing safety and medical assistance as the riders make their way across the country.
At Starehe Boys Centre, the Bikeathon is viewed as both a fundraising initiative and an extension of the school’s approach to developing well-rounded young people. “We hope they take away three things: the self-esteem and character that comes from taking on a major challenge, a sense of service and self-sacrifice, and the importance of team spirit. You are out there on the road together, not competing against one another, and everyone has a role to play,” said Fred Okono, Director, Starehe Boys’ Centre.
As the riders begin the final leg, the fundraising campaign remains open to members of the public, friends of Starehe and well-wishers who wish to support the education fund.
For Hicho, the journey is ultimately about ensuring that the opportunities he received at Starehe can be extended to another generation.
“I want to give back to my alma mater and help other young people benefit from the same opportunities I received here. You are because someone was, and I believe it is important to give back and create that opportunity for someone else,” he said.
The riders are expected to continue their journey towards Mombasa over the coming days, with an aim of arriving in Mombasa on Sunday, 16August, carrying with them not only the ambition of completing 1,100 kilometres, but also the hopes of helping create greater educational opportunities for future generations of Starehe students.
