Fourth annual 'Kickin' for Kenya' soccer camp raises money for African community center

Sunday, April 23, 2017 - 12:20pm By Ed Martin, Editor

Local youth helped raise about $1,000 for a Nairobi, Kenya commuity center on Saturday at its 'Kickin' for Kenya' annual fundraiser.

Photo by Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

It was certainly a busy weekend in Lemoore – what with the pizza festival occurring – but the fourth annual ‘Kicking for Kenya,” a local effort to raise funds for a community center in Nairobi, Kenya, held its fourth annual fundraiser.

The numbers weren’t quite as big as in past years, but the spirit was still present as kids of all ages, including volunteer coaches from the Lemoore High School and West Hills College Lemoore soccer teams, participated in the annual event.

Group photo of participants at Saturday's (April 22) 'Kickin' for Kenya' fundraiser.

Photo by Bill Burris, Lemooresports.com

“We had 77 kids this year,” said local organizer Janet Brown, who started the program, along with the South Valley Community Church, in 2014. The event is held annually at the Lemoore Youth Sports Complex.

The goal is to raise funds for the Furaha Community Center in Nairobi, Kenya. In the past money has been used to purchase soccer equipment for the community center. Brown even visited the center in 2014 and plans another trip in 2018.

Brown says about $1,000 was raised Saturday, all of which will be used to support the Furaha Community Center. Anyone wishing to donate can still do so by contacting the South Valley Community Church at 924-3458.

Brown said she was pleased with the turnout of volunteers, including members of her soccer team and the West Hills squad. “Lemoore High School and West Hills College players came out in huge number to help coach,” she said. “They gave a lot of their time and I think they maybe had more fun that the kids.”