By Rebecca Gichana
There are different ways of imparting life skills in children.
The Hog Charge, which is an annual bicycle competition is a challenge that teaches children to be socially responsible and teamwork.
The 2012 Hog Charge was an exciting event that brought a lot of competition among the teams that took part.
The event that was staged at Peponi School, Ruiru brought children from schools from Nairobi and other parts of the country with the aim to compete and raise money that will help in fencing the Aberdare, Mau and Mt Kenya Forests as part of environmental conservation.
Participants of the Hog Challenge fight it out during the competition held at Peponi School, Ruiru. [Photos: Martin Mukangu/Standard] READ MORE |
This year a different charitable angle to the event was realised with Kisumu based World Bicycle Relief donating bicycles to the Ruiru Rehabilitation Community School who had sponsored their own team and actually won in the open category.
Brookside Dairy has sponsored this event for 14 years now and according to the Marketing Manager Mr Peter Wasonga, the event is key in teaching the young and youthful about social responsibility.
"We sponsor this competition together with Peponi School to teach participants to be mindful of the environment since all the proceeds go towards environmental projects," said Wasonga.
He added that the Hog Charge also encouraged teamwork among students who take part as all the four team members need to strategise on best ways to maximise on speed as a unit and complete the race in the shortest time possible.
The Hog Charge also involves parents who not only go to cheer and encourage their children, but also assist their children in raising funds for their teams. Entry per team of four is Sh20,000, however, the teams are free to raise more money.
This worthy course raised Sh4.12 million from 130 teams, which saw 520 participants take part. The money was presented to the Chairman of the Rhino Ark Foundation Mr Collins Church. Last year’s event attracted 120 teams that raised Sh4 million.
As chief guest Mr Church briefed participants on the various projects Rhino Ark has financed from proceeds raised through initiatives such as the Hog Charge as well as the Rhino Charge.
Peponi School’s under 12 boys’ team dubbed Hog Rovers won their category and also won the award for being the highest individual fundraisers during the 2012 Hog Charge.
The team comprising Jomo Kenyatta, Ade Aluoch, James Karanja and Raymond Muchiri raised Sh239,000. Jomo Kenyatta had won the same category as well as the award for the highest individual fundraiser last year with a different team and expressed his excitement at the effort put by his team this year.
"I’m happy that we won today though the race was very tough. We did our best as a team to be able to win the race," he said after receiving their trophies.
Brookside Dairy supported the event with a donation of Sh650,000 besides providing dairy products as refreshment for all competing teams.
The company supports the Hog Charge under its sports sponsorship program, which is part of an initiative to raise well rounded youth academically, physically and as far as social responsibility is concerned.
Other sponsorships were GP Karting, Hot wheels Sh150,000, Horrid Hogs Peponi Sh145,000 and the Wild Kayoties from Kenton College Sh116,000.
