Run for Change: A Race for Rights and Hope

Every Step Counts in the Fight for Children’s Rights

The crisp morning air of Karura Forest fills with energy as hundreds of runners gather at the starting line. But this is no ordinary race. Each stride, each breath, each drop of sweat carries a powerful message: Every child deserves safety, freedom, and a future.

Welcome to Run for Change, Gracious Foundation’s annual charity marathon that transforms fitness into activism. More than just a race, it’s a movement of solidarity—uniting athletes, advocates, and allies in the fight against child labor, FGM, and the denial of children’s rights.

This year, as we prepare for our biggest event yet, we invite you to lace up, stand up, and speak up for Kenya’s most vulnerable children.

Why We Run: The Crisis Facing Kenya’s Children

1. Child Labor: Stolen Childhoods

✔ 1.3 million Kenyan children are trapped in labor (ILO).
✔ Many work in quarries, farms, or domestic servitude, missing school and facing abuse.

2. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): A Violation of Rights

✔ 1 in 5 Kenyan girls still faces FGM (UNICEF).
✔ The practice leads to trauma, health complications, and lost education.

3. Lack of Access to Education & Safety

✔ Poverty forces children—especially girls—into early marriage or dangerous work.
✔ Without intervention, cycles of exploitation and illiteracy continue.

We run because they can’t. We run to break these chains.

How Running Creates Change

1. Raising Awareness

The marathon draws media, influencers, and policymakers, amplifying the conversation on child rights.

2. Funding Critical Programs

Proceeds support:
✔ Rescue operations for children in labor or FGM risk.
✔ School scholarships for survivors.
✔ Community education to prevent exploitation.

3. Solidarity in Motion

When hundreds run together, it sends a message: Kenya stands with its children.

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Race Day: What to Expect

📅 Date: November 30, 2025
📍 Location: Karura Forest, Nairobi
⏰ Start Time: 6:30 AM

Race Categories:

• 5km Fun Run/Walk – For families and beginners.

• 10km Challenge – For casual runners.

• 21km Half Marathon – For seasoned athletes.

Special Features:

✔ Survivor Stories – Hear from children rescued from labor/FGM.
✔ Pledge Wall – Write messages of hope for beneficiaries.
✔ Entertainment & Food – Live music, DJs, and healthy refreshments.

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Last Year’s Impact: The Power of 800 Runners

✅ 800+ participants raced for change.
✅ $50,000 raised, funding:

• 20+ child rescues from labor/FGM.

• 50 school uniforms & supplies.

• Community workshops on child rights.

📌 “I ran for my daughter—so she never has to face what these children do.” — Margaret K., 2024 Runner