World Athletics recently reported that Kenyan middle- and long-distance legend and three-time Olympic 1500m gold medalist Faith Kipyegon, in Ndabibit village, Keringet, her hometown, officially launched a maternal and child hospital construction project called “Dare to Dream”.
The "running queen," who has repeatedly broken world records on the track, is now breaking another life-and-death "record" in her hometown, dedicated to addressing the severe shortage of maternal healthcare resources in rural areas. The milestone project was announced alongside Nike during Paris Breaking4 in 2025, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 25 this year.
For 32-year-old Faith Kipyegon, this is not only a charitable way to give back to the community, but also stems from a profound realization she had eight years ago when she became a mother for the first time. It was then that her daughter Alyn was born. Although as a top athlete Kipyegon could afford high-quality medical care, the experience made it impossible for her to ignore the challenges faced by women in her hometown.
"I went through a lot," Faith Kipyegon recalled. "I thought at the time, 'If even I, who was in a privileged environment with access to top medical resources, went through this, then how would the pregnant mothers back home cope?'"
In Kipyegon's hometown, pregnant women often have to walk up to 35 kilometers to access basic obstetric care. This extreme lack of medical resources has led to countless tragedies.
Faith Kipyegon said emotionally: “I see women going to give birth full of hope, carrying life and dreams, but too often they return in sorrow. It is not because they did anything wrong; it is simply because the care they need is too far away, too limited, or not good enough.”
Local county councilor William Kilamit revealed that the number of newborns registered each month in the area ranges from 98 to 120, but the existing medical facilities are not only far away, they are already overwhelmed. Sister Genevieve Onsarigo pointed out: “There is no hospital in this community for mothers to receive prenatal checkups, no nearby facility for delivery, and nowhere to go even when a child is sick.”
Official figures show that maternal mortality in Kenya remains high. According to 2025–2026 data, there are about 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the country, and roughly 5,000 to 6,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications.
For Faith Kipyegon, every life lost is unacceptable. "One death could mean the loss of a future champion, a future president, or a good person in the community," she said, "that's why I returned to my hometown."
The "Dare to Dream" maternal and child hospital project was launched by Faith Kipyegon in partnership with Nike, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and the Order of Malta. The facility is expected to be officially put into use later this year.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, many heavyweight figures from the athletics world were in attendance, including marathon "king" Eliud Kipchoge, 2019 World Championships 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi and coach Richard Metto.
Eliud Kipchoge praised the initiative: "Impact is not measured solely by breaking records or winning medals; true social impact is directly benefiting communities. Faith, as a mother, focusing on maternal care issues is vital."
Tanya, Nike's global head of running·Hvizdak（ Tanya Hvizdak ）也在现场致辞中强调："Women should not have to choose between their dreams and the support needed to be mothers. This maternal and child care center shows that greatness is measured not only by medals or seconds, but by the impact we have on others' lives."
To celebrate the moment, Faith Kipyegon also held a children's trail running event at the Keringet High Altitude Training Centre, drawing many boys and girls eager to showcase their talents in races ranging from 100 meters to 2 kilometers. Watching the children run barefoot, Kipyegon seemed to see her younger self. "Seeing the children run, I feel very happy, even a little emotional," she said.
