NN Marathon Rotterdam organiser Golazo launches Kelvin Kiptum Foundation
2/23/2024
To keep the memory of Kelvin Kiptum alive and support his family and community, Golazo is launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation. The fund will predominantly provide continued financial support for education, infrastructure and the support of young marathon runners in Kenya.
With the death of Kelvin Kiptum, the sports world loses a great athlete. But above all, his family loses a warm family man, someone who could offer a better future to his immediate community. Kelvin’s recent sporting successes gave his family and parents a window into a better future. Golazo wants to continue supporting the family and Kelvin’s immediate community as it has assisted Kelvin to the best of its ability in recent years.
Kelvin's family (and his two young children) can count on support from the fund. For his immediate community, the plans that Kelvin himself had in terms of investments in education and infrastructure will locally be picked up and developed. By establishing a marathon team and training facilities for young runners, the foundation offers them the opportunity for a possible future in athletics. Golazo is already contributing the first 50,000 euros to the fund, symbolic of 1 euro per participant in the NN Marathon Rotterdam.
Lasting Memory
Furthermore, numerous initiatives will be rolled out in memory of Kelvin. “At the NN Marathon Rotterdam on 14 April we will pay tribute to him,” says Wilbert Lek, director NN Marathon Rotterdam. “Kiptum would have been at the start to try and improve on his best time and drop below the magical mark of 2 hours. All participants in the event will be given a black ribbon that can be attached to their running top. Also, bib number 1, which was assigned to Kelvin, will not be used.”
If you would like to support the Kevin Kiptum Foundation, you can this here.
Kelvin Kiptum lost his life in a car accident on 11 February. He is the Marathon World Record holder (2.00.35). Golazo had been mentoring Kiptum since 2018.