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GOING THE DISTANCE TO BRING HOPE TO AFRICAN CHILDREN, ONE STEP AT A TIME

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26 FOR AFRICA

Welcome to the 26 FOR AFRICA Web site. We're dedicated to bringing hope to African children through education. And one of the ways we hope to bring attention to their need is through athletics, including running marathons! In fact, the “26” in 26 For Africa stands for the 26.2 mile marathon distance.

We work with a some wonderful people in Uganda to provide better lives for poor children. The children we support are not able to attend government schools because the schools are so far away they have to walk for hours to get there, they lack the funds to pay school fees or are needed at home to work in the fields.

Pastor Susan Mary Okell of Kawanda, Uganda, started First Fruits Schools to provide elementary education for these needy children, many of whom are orphans. We've been privileged to provide support for teacher's salaries and school supplies, including food.

Your generous donations also permitted us to buy land for a school in the village of Kotolo, Uganda. The people of the community then made the bricks and built the “Evergreen School”. Your donations allowed us to put a roof on the school and the children of Kotolo now have an elementary school.

Unfortunately, we no longer have the funds to be able to provide regular support. Some of the teachers have been forced to leave the schools to search for other ways to support their families.

We would like to help the communities of Kotolo and Mityana develop economically so their schools can be sustained. In order to reach our goal we would like to buy a diesel powered grinding mill. The mill can be used to grind maize, rice, sorghum, millet and casava.

How you can help:

1. All donations are greatly appreciated.

(In November, 2008, Craig and Becky Conover completed the Seattle Marathon. Craig was not able to enter the Rock and Roll Marathon due to injury. He is looking forward to running in the Portland Marathon in October and/or the Seattle Marathon in November.)

2. RUN (OR WALK) WITH US!!!