Golazo donate 7.8 million as Kelvin Kiptum Foundation is launched

Golazo, organizers of the Rotterdam Marathon have donated 50,000 euros (approximately Ksh 7,893,985) to the newly launched Kelvin Kiptum Foundation. 

The foundation was established by Golazo which is the management company that ran the late Kiptum’s affairs before his untimely demise.

According to the Golazo management, the aim of the initiative is to support the family of the late marathon world record holder and his entire community.  

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“To keep the memory of Kelvin Kiptum alive and support his family and community, the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation is introduced. 

The fund will predominantly provide continued financial support for education, infrastructure and sport initiatives for young marathon athletes in Kenya.

Golazo is already contributing the first 50,000 euros to the fund, symbolic of 1 euro per participant in the NN Rotterdam Marathon,” read part of the statement on the Rotterdam Marathon website. 

Moreover, the foundation aims to set up running facilities and a marathon team in Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet County which will provide an opportunity for young runners to train and realize their dreams. 

Individuals who would like to contribute to the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation can visit the Rotterdam Marathon official social media pages or website for more information.

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Kiptum died at the age of 24 alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana while heading to Chepsamo from Eldoret. He left behind a widow and two children.

The duo were buried on Wednesday, February 21 and Friday, February 23 respectively with Kiptum’s funeral service attended by various athletics officials including the World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

Golazo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bob Veerbeck eulogized Kiptum as a runner who had a luminous future.

“I believe he had a bright future ahead of him, but unfortunately, we had a tragic accident. We will make the Rotterdam Marathon a fitting tribute to a legendary runner,” he said.

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The 2022 Valencia Marathon champion was expected to attack his world record of 2:00.34 at this year’s Rotterdam Marathon in April. 

According to the organizers, a record number of people had already signed up for the race, hoping to race against the best marathoner of all time. 

Besides the Rotterdam Marathon, the late Kiptum had also been included in Kenya’s provisional team for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games which starts in July.

In Paris, Kiptum who smashed the London Marathon course record in April 2023 before smashing the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October, was to battle it out for the title alongside compatriot Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele. 

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