Olympic champion, Joshua Cheptegei has officially launched a Shs1.7 billion fundraising drive to complete an athlete training center that is being constructed in his home district, Kapchorwa.
Speaking at a press conference held at Kampala Serena Hotel on Thursday, Cheptegei, who won gold in 500m and silver in the 10,000m race during the just concluded Olympic games in Tokyo revealed his plans of raising Shs1.7 billion.
” Today, we launch a 100 days public fundraising drive to raise 1.7 billion shillings towards the completion of this project. The money will go towards the construction of a world class hostel facility with fitness and other related equipment for athletes in the region and globally,” Cheptegei said.
The construction of the training center started in 2018 following the 24-year old’s success in the 2018 common wealth Games. Since then he has dedicated his winnings from the race towards constructing a world class training center which has not been able to reach completion since.
” Over the last years, I have dedicated my winnings from the race track towards the construction of a training center that is built to international standards and contact as vehicle for you althetics talent in Uganda and beyond to achieve their dreams like mine, of winning gold,”the Olympic champion said.
” The center is already fitted with a good Olympics size track that is in good condition to enable athletes succeed at a regional and global events,” Cheptegei revealed.
Cheptegei also said that the facility will also double as a museum which can be used as a tourist attraction to promote tourism in the country.
“We also envision a first of it’s kind museum for Ugandan athletes that will continue to attract both tourists and teach the values and ethics of Ugandan athletes while authentically telling their story,” he said.
He added, ” We call upon everybody in Uganda and in the dispora, corporate companies and all well wishers to join this drive to nurture the next generation of runners in our country.”
Cheptegei was among the 3 Olympians who were rewarded with brand new cars by President Museveni at Kololo ceremonial grounds on Wednesday .
The campaign that kicked off immediately has been code named, “Run with Cheptegei,” and well wishers can contribute through his bank account and MTN Momo pay.
For the bank account option, one can send the money to account number 9030016912866 in the names of Cheptegei Joshya Kiprui or the Dollar account number 9030016913633 in the names of the same athlete.
For Momo pay, dial *165*3# and insert the merchant code: 319325
