"Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."

— Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison

For the roughly 1 in 1 000 children in South Africa living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), play is a necessity that is constantly stolen away. Activities that should be effortless and joy-filled are too often replaced by chronic joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness.

My Challenge:

My name is Kigen Chepkonga, and this October, I am taking on the 42.2 km Nelson Mandela Marathon to raise R15,000 for Arthritis Kids South Africa.

Five years ago, I never would have believed this was possible.

In 2020, my own arthritis diagnosis reshaped my world. Seemingly simple tasks like walking up a flight of stairs or playing the piano became daily battles. Eventually, the progression of the disease forced me off the Hilton College rowing team, leaving me convinced that my athletic journey was over before it had even begun.

I am standing on the starting line today because I was fortunate enough to receive specialized medical care, early intervention, and effective medication. But for thousands of children across South Africa, this level of care remains completely out of reach due to financial strain and vast geographic barriers.

Running 42.2 km is a privilege granted to me by treatment that every child deserves.

Where Your Donation Goes:

Every rand raised goes directly to Arthritis Kids South Africa to fund educational resources and support networks for young patients and their families.

Between nineteen and seventy-five thousand children in South Africa are estimated to suffer from JIA, most of whom are undiagnosed, living in pain, and at an increased risk of preventable disability.

Among the diagnosed, many receive inadequate care, including a majority of an estimated 25% of patients requiring specialised medication called biologics.

JIA is ideally treated by a paediatric rheumatologist, of whom there are ten across the country in only three of the nine provinces.

Sponsor a Kilometre

Please consider sponsoring a kilometre—whether it's R50, R150, or R500 or make a once off donation—and help ensure that no child's dreams are sidelined by a treatable disease.

Join the movement giving children the freedom of running free.