Letter from Iten...

So much has happened in the last two weeks, it’s hard to know where to begin. But I will start with today…

As you know, we have set up the Stazza’s Stable Arete Scholarship Project. We have our first runner (Robert Kiprugut Nicodemus—correct spellings/name). He’s an amazing runner and a lovely young man. He turned 19 in July, he only started running two years ago, and already has times that would put him ahead of the top runners in Ireland. He has great potential. We will be training him up for the Dublin marathon.

We have procured a camp for the runners. Initially, the camp will accommodate 5 young elite Stablemates. We will build more rooms for the squad, as we develop the project. But, we’re recruiting carefully and will start with just these two until we implement the necessary funding and infrastructure for the project. Given that these young guns will re-invest a small percentage of their race winnings back into the Areté Fund, to help future young stars, it’s looks like the project will prove sustainable. Already, we've had a number of people/businesses enquiring about how to make donations/sponsor athletes; we're just setting up the platform to take payments etc...

And while the Arete Scholarship Program is developing, we have been working on Stazza’s Stable Headquarters, Iten. Tomorrow, serious work begins on improving and extending The Stable HQ: the decorators are coming in to paint Stable HQ from top to bottom. The HQ has 6/7 bedrooms, a large communal and dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, a pantry, and 3 bathrooms. Tomorrow, work also begins on a communal shower block. The shower block will have two showers, two sinks, two sit down toilets (a luxury here; guests will need to bring their own reading material), and a laundry area. We have plans for another 4 bedroom block, with a fitted kitchen and bathrooms.

Exciting times!