On 25 June 2010, Henry Wanyoike and his sighted running guide Joseph Kibunja, Standard Chartered’s Global SiB Ambassadors, inspired 56 visually impaired guests during a Motivational Running Clinic at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil.

Comprising 50 students from the School of Special Education in Setapak and 6 adult athletes from the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), our special SiB guests listened intently when Henry shared with them his arduous journey from struggling to accept blindness with accepting blindness at 21 to becoming the world record holder of the 5,000 and 10,000 meters events in Paralympics of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Henry said, “Though I lost my sight, I never lost my vision.” He went on to stress the importance of keeping a clear and burning goal constantly in the mind which will help everyone, sighted or blind, to achieve great heights no matter the challenge. His poignant message drew applause from the SiB guests at many junctures because Henry addressed many fears and negative mindsets that he himself had conquered.

The Motivational Running Clinic was organized as a run-up to the Standard Chartered KL Marathon on 27 June 2010, in which all 56 of our SiB friends ran in the 3 km race, guided by our staff volunteers. After the Motivational speech, Arif Siddiqui presented brand new pairs of Adidas running shoes to all the students and Adidas gift vouchers to the MAB athletes. The shoes were worn by the students during the marathon proper. The gold medal winning duo then taught the SIB guests and staff Running Buddies some running techniques and led several practice rounds around the track.