13 Starehe Boys set off for final leg of 1,100-kilometre charity Bikeathon to Mombasa
Thirteen students from Starehe Boys Centre have resumed their 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 arrived in Nairobi on Monday, August 10, after cycling through several counties and spent Tuesday resting and recovering at Starehe Boys Centre before returning to the road on Wednesday morning.
The team is seeking to raise KSh10 million for the Starehe Boys Centre education fund through the Dr Geoffrey Griffin Memorial Charity Bikeathon, which honours the legacy of the institution’s founder and his lifelong commitment to education and opportunities for young people.
Bikeathon tests riders’ resilience, leadership and teamwork
For Technical Director and Team Coach Ian Hicho, an Old Starehian, the challenge is also an opportunity for the students to develop life skills beyond the classroom.
“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,” said Hicho.
He said the riders had undergone months of physical and mental preparation, including long-distance training to prepare them for cycling about 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,” he said.
The first leg tested the riders against changing road conditions, traffic, hills, heat and fatigue, but the team remained determined to complete the challenge together.
Form Three student and returning Bikeathon participant Fidel Alfred Odhiambo said the journey had taught him 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,” he said.
Team captain Ian Stanley said the experience had strengthened his leadership skills, noting that his responsibility went beyond leading the group.
“Leadership is not just about being in front; it is about making sure everyone gets to the destination,” he said.
Riders target KSh10 million for Starehe education fund
The Bikeathon is supported by partners including Vivo Energy Kenya, whose Shell service station network has provided stopover points, refreshments and logistical assistance. St John Ambulance is also providing emergency response and medical support along the route.
Vivo Energy Kenya Commercial Manager Mark Senteu, a former Starehe student, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to education and youth empowerment.
At Starehe, the initiative is viewed as both a fundraising campaign and a character-building exercise.
“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,” said Starehe Boys Centre Director Fred Okono.
The riders are expected to arrive in Mombasa on Sunday, August 16, marking the completion of the 1,100-kilometre journey while raising funds to support education at Starehe Boys Centre.
The fundraising campaign remains open to members of the public, friends of Starehe and well-wishers.
