Athletics Race Fund Q1 & Q2 2026 

We believe that while talent can be found everywhere, not everyone gets the same opportunities. In 2025, we started the Athletics Race Fund (ARF) to break down the financial barriers that keep talented runners from competing. Looking back at the first half of 2026, we’ve seen how even small investments in logistics can lead to life-changing moments for our athletes.

The ARF was created to cover the often-overlooked costs of professional racing. For many athletes, paying for race entry, travel, accommodation, and good nutrition can be too much. By covering these basics, we help our runners focus on doing their best. In the first half of 2026 alone, we supported 19 athletes in six major national events, and their achievements have been outstanding.

This year started with the Iten Mountain Trail, where one of our athletes ran an impressive 3:06:47 at 2400 meters altitude. Next came the Eldoret City Marathon, where five ARF athletes competed and our fastest finished 18th in a tough field. At the West Pokot Marathon, one athlete made a remarkable half-marathon debut, finishing in 64 minutes. Even when injuries kept someone from finishing at the Iten Road Race, the fund made sure our athletes got the support they needed to recover and keep going. This is the ultimate trust we have built over time at DBA Africa.

A highlight for us was the Nairobi City Marathon. Thanks to our partnerships with Healthy U and Sweat Squad, we spent only KES 16,000 to support two female athletes with logistics. Their success was incredible, they won KES 525,000 in prize money. But the real impact was personal. One winner said her prize money would pay her rent for the next 6.7 years, giving her a sense of security she never thought possible.

Daniel Ndambuki’s story shows what the ARF is all about. He is currently a security guard at the university where we hold our monthly runs, and we noticed his talent when he joined a 5K. When Daniel told us he wanted to run the Lewa Marathon, the ARF paid for his entry. Even after a hard fall at the 35km mark, Daniel’s determination helped him finish in an impressive 6th place.​ This is the grit and passion we are all about at DBA Africa, the life skills we teach that help you overcome trails.

So far in 2026, the ARF has spent KES 106,948 to help our runners, and they have won a total of KES 525,000. This fund is about more than just money, it shows what can happen when we believe in people. As we move forward, we are grateful to our 20 donors and our amazing athletes, and we will keep working to make sure that no future champion is stopped by the cost of travel or race entry.