Lucy and I are racing 10 kilometers in support of girls' education. Any money we raise goes directly to Daraja Academy in Kenya and Lucy's education. Thank you for your help! Or, as they say in Kenya, ASANTE SANA!
Lucy comes from Yatta village in Machakos County, located about 75 miles east of Nairobi, and will graduate from Daraja with the Class of 2026. She lives with her parents and six siblings in a simple mud home. When there is work, her father is a construction laborer, and her mother washes clothes. Most people assist with small businesses, especially hawking around bus stations. From the time she was very young, Lucy walked two kilometers each way to get to school. Every other afternoon, she trekked three kilometers to the nearest river to fetch water. Sometimes she was able to borrow her neighbor's donkey to assist her, but more often than not, Lucy carried the 20L canisters of water on her back.
Yet, Lucy has an inspiring light and never lost focus on her dream of staying in school and becoming a neurosurgeon. In her words, “Daraja was the answer to thousands of prayers.”