Airdronian Faida Mageza will be running around Airdrie to fundraise money for kids to go to school in Africa.

She will be partaking in the 10-kilometre Virtual Vancouver Sun Run on April 20th to fundraise for the Kenya Education Endowment Fund (KEEF).

The primary goal of KEEF is to offer scholarships to exceptionally talented students from Kakamega County in Western Kenya who lack the financial resources to cover the expenses of both secondary and post-secondary education. The annual fees for secondary school education amount to $600 or higher.

This will be her first run in Airdrie, the other three times she participated was when she was living in Sherwood Park.

AirdriePhoto from her run in 2021.

 

AirdriePhoto from her run in 2022.

Mageza first started running when all the gyms were closed during COVID-19.

"I was running every single day to stay in shape, and now that I can help kids go to school with running, it works out great."

Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mageza did most of her schooling in Africa; getting a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (She also has a master's degree in business administration which she got in Canada), she understands how hard it is for families to send the kids to school.

"My friends, people that I grew up with, some didn't get that opportunity to go to school and that's why I started doing this run," stated Mageza. "Those kids, they are very smart, very intelligent. If they get the chance or the opportunity to go to school, it will make a big change, not for them, not just for their families, but for the whole world."

According to Mageza a lot of people take going to school for granted here in Canada and she hopes eventually everybody will realize how important it is.

The route of her run is yet to be decided but will do what she can to help these kids in need. Her goal is to fundraise $500.

To donate and help Mageza fundraise, click HERE.

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