Christmas eve was well celebrated by ailing children at the Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret when celebrated athletes chose to share a day with the children.
Led by former athlete and Shoe4Africa founder Toby Tanser, they visited the children for the festive season with underprivileged children.
Accompanied by partners, including former athlete and nurse Nancy Wagner, Tanser toured the paediatric facility, interacted with young patients and met healthcare workers offering specialised care.
In collaboration with partners, the Shoe4Africa team distributed Christmas gifts to children admitted at the hospital, bringing cheer and encouragement to patients and their families.
Tanser said the visit was meant to give hope to children who remain hospitalised during the festive season due to critical illnesses.
“We have about 200 children who are stuck in hospital because of serious medical conditions and come from underprivileged backgrounds. When I first came to Kenya as an athlete, I saw children sharing wards with adults, and it deeply touched me. That is what inspired the idea of building a children’s hospital,” he said.
He added that, in partnership with the government, Shoe4Africa is constructing the Harry J. Dyer Burns Unit and the Shoe4Africa Juli Anne Perry Children’s Cancer Hospital, which will be the first dedicated children’s cancer hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms Wagner, a nurse based in Germany, said she works in a cancer hospital and was pleased to spend Christmas with children receiving treatment.
“Cancer is a deadly disease, and what Toby is doing here is remarkable. He has given children a proper place to receive specialised treatment,” she said.
Shoe4Africa partner Chelimo Saina encouraged well-wishers, particularly those living abroad, to support the initiative through donations on the organisation’s website, www.shoe4africa.org, or by visiting the hospital.
MTRH management welcomed the visit, noting that such engagements help raise awareness about paediatric healthcare needs while boosting morale among patients and staff.
The Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital is a state-of-the-art paediatric facility serving children from the North Rift and neighbouring regions