Bernalillo County's Safari Run, organized to benefit Global Health Partnerships, a local nonprofit composed of medical professionals and volunteers committed to assisting a medical clinic in rural Kenya, is set to take place on Oct. 1. The event will be held at the UNM North Campus Golf Course Open Space, located at 2201 Tucker Ave. NE, according to a press release.
The county announced that interested individuals can find more information and register for the Safari Run at SafariRun.org. Packet pickup for the event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Heart & Sole Sports, located at 2817 San Mateo Blvd. NE. On the day of the run, the staging, start, and finish area will be near the UNM Law School parking lot on Stanford, which is the designated parking lot for the Safari Run. For more details about Global Health Partnerships, individuals can visit ghp-usa.org.
Celebrating its 13th year, the Safari Run is the primary fundraising event for Global Health Partnerships (GHP), a nonprofit organization based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. GHP consists of healthcare professionals and dedicated volunteers who work closely with the Kenya Health Ministry. The organization's main focus in Kenya is to enhance maternal and child healthcare outcomes by providing essential medical supplies and offering training to nurses and community health volunteers at the Kisesini Clinic, as stated on the SafariRun website.
District 3 Commissioner Adrianne Barboa expressed her support for the event, stating, "The Safari Fun Run has become a North Campus Trail Tradition. Global Health Partnership has created a local health event that also supports health access in Africa, acting locally for global impact."
The Safari Run will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a complimentary running clinic for children, led by renowned Kenyan runners. Following the clinic, a 1K kids' run will take place at 9 a.m., followed by the opening circle featuring Running Medicine at 9:15 a.m. The 8K race and 5K run/walk will commence at 9:30 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to receive handcrafted wooden safari animals from Kenya, precise timekeeping, finish line photos and videos, and the chance to run alongside elite athletes, according to a press release.
Dr. Rifka Stern, the Safari Run organizer, expressed her excitement about the event, stating, "We are thrilled with the continuing cooperation between Bernalillo County, Global Health Partnerships, and area runners who gather to run together and support the children of Kenya. Funds raised from the Safari Run provide support for the Kisesini Clinic, which is focused on maternal and child health."