BRISTOL, VA -- As part of the NAIA\'s Champions of Character program, Virginia Intermont College\'s track team wanted to make a difference in their sport, so they decided to help the Chepkero Athletics Club in Kaptagat, Kenya by sending over thirty pairs of running shoes and track spikes to young runners.
\"Most of these children have no shoes at all,\" said David Cheromei, one of Virginia Intermont's top runners and a member of Chepkero Athletics. "They will be greatly appreciated and will be very motivational to our young runners, many who have nothing."
VIC collected over 30 pairs of running shoes and track spikes over a three-month period, some slightly used and some brand new, and sent them to the Chepkero club that parallels the vision of the NAIA in making a difference in the lives of young people.
"The Chepkero Athletics Club mirrors the goals of the NAIA," said VIC coach Scott Simmons, "so we thought they were an ideal organization to help, along with the fact that it's the club that helped develop David."
Chepkero Athletics focuses on promoting personal, spiritual and community growth through athletics, while the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative commits to the development of character ideals such as respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship through athletics.
Chepkero Athletics was started five years ago with another mission in mind beside the development of spiritual, academic and athletic abilities of young Kenyans, and that was to be a clearinghouse for American colleges to insure the character, and academic and athletic abilities of student-athletes they recommend.
In the recent past, a wave of Kenyan student-athletes entered US colleges on scholarship only to perform well below their expectations. Chepkero Athletics felt that, due to deceptive student-athletes and American collegiate coaches not confirming performances nor checking references, opportunities were ruined for deserving and able young Kenyan runners when coaches were no longer willing to give them a chance. The club now strives to assist young runners in developing to competitive levels as well as in preparing academically for US colleges.
David Cheromei, who was VIC\'s fifth runner on their NAIA national championship cross country team and was the NAIA indoor 5,000m champion, is evidence of their work, as are University of Arkansas runners Josphat Boit and Peter Kosgei.