Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Marathon Runner Discusses World Hunger with Cross Country Team

By Sara Schaeffer


Record holding marathon runner and humanitarian Paul Tergat held a meeting on world hunger with GW’s cross-country team on Friday afternoon. Tergat began by introducing his work with World Food Program, an organization that provides food assistance globally to underdeveloped regions.

Tergat, who held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007 and received two silver Olympic medals, learned first hand of hunger as a young child growing up in Kenya. He recalled running six miles to school each day “because there was a meal there.” Running each day helped Tergat take his mind off the pain in his stomach, and ironically introduced him to a sport he broke numerous records in.

Tergat also discussed his personal philanthropy. In 2005 he created the Paul Tergat Foundation to mobilize resources to give food, health care and education to disadvantaged and marginalized people in African communities.

He ended his overview of the organization with a plea to remind peers of humanitarian values: “Let them know that it is also important to think about others.”

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