Faith Kipyegon’s Mission to Save Mothers in Keringet
In the world of middle-distance running, Faith Kipyegon is defined by seconds. But in her hometown of Keringet, life is often defined by kilometres, specifically the 35-kilometre trek a woman in labour must endure to find a hospital.
On January 25, 2026, the world’s greatest miler traded her starting blocks for a shovel, breaking ground on the Dare to Dream Maternity Ward. It is a project that proves Kipyegon’s legacy won’t just be in record books, but in the heartbeats of the children born safely in her wake.
Reducing 35 km
For years, Kipyegon has watched a heartbreaking cycle in her community of women beginning their journey toward motherhood with hope, only to lose their babies, or their own lives, due to a lack of local infrastructure.
“Many arrive too late. Many give birth without dignity or safety,” Kipyegon shared during the ceremony. “The price of that is paid by mothers, by babies, and by our future.”
The facility is a direct response to this crisis. By bringing high-quality maternal care to Keringet, Kipyegon is effectively shortening the distance for thousands of families, ensuring that the nearest help is no longer a world away.
A partnership of purpose
The Dare to Dream ward is the physical manifestation of Kipyegon’s 2025 Breaking 4 campaign. While her attempt to run a mile in under four minutes captured the sporting world’s imagination, her partner, Nike, saw an opportunity to turn athletic excellence into social equity.
Tanya Hvizdak, Nike’s Global Head of Running, noted that the project redefines what greatness looks like. “It wasn’t only about performance, it was about purpose,” Hvizdak said. “This centre is proof that greatness is measured in the lives we impact.”
A community in motion
The groundbreaking event was more like a festival for the future. Over 1,000 local students participated in a cross-country race, sprinting across the same soil where the new ward will stand.
The Dare to Dream Facility is driven by a mission to eradicate preventable maternal and neonatal deaths within the Keringet region, serving as a critical healthcare lifeline.
This ambitious project found its catalyst in Faith Kipyegon’s historic 2025 pursuit of the sub-4-minute mile, a feat of athletic endurance that Nike has now translated into a legacy of social equity.
By providing a safe, modern medical hub, the facility offers a transformative alternative to the gruelling 35km journey that expectant mothers previously endured, ensuring that the distance to quality care is no longer a barrier to a healthy future.
As the dust settled on the kids’ race and the first stones were laid, it was evident that Faith Kipyegon may run for herself, but she builds for her people.
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