Mobile Junction

Thom Seagren shows some Kenyan art at his office Monday afternoon. He and his wife, Shari, are the founders of Children With Hope house for orphans in Kenya. A 5k race will benefit the children this weekend. Photo by Richie Ann Ashcraft.

Children in Kenya love to run, so hosting a 5K Saturday to benefit them seems to be the ideal way to raise money for Children With Hope, a nonprofit local organization that recently opened a children’s home in Edoret, Kenya.

The Christian organization was started six years ago as an idea between Thom and Shari Seagren. Thom said he kept feeling like God was calling him to step up and do something to help children in the world. Although they searched for the best area to help, Kenya just kept coming up.

“Although I always had a fascination with running, we put a lot of thought and prayer into picking Kenya,” Thom said.

Shari traveled to Kenya first to purchase a house with a little land for the children’s home. Last year, 10 children came to live in the first Children With Hope house with parents Horace and Phyllis Leister. The Idaho couple served as foster parents to more than 150 children before moving to Africa.

“Horace and Phyllis really are saints,” Thom said.

The children, most under age 3, have been orphaned due to AIDS and other tragic deaths of their parents. Thom explained that adoption in Kenya for foreigners is very difficult, so providing children with food and housing is the best way to ensure a future for them.

“Life is just so much harder there,” Thom said. “Our vision is that the Children With Hope house will become their home, provide their family unit, and be their connection for rest of their lives.”

Children With Hope is a local charity, based out of Grand Junction, with all proceeds sent to the home in Africa, Thom explained. “We’re working hard right here in Grand Junction to take care of these kids,” he said.

It costs roughly $150 per month to provide for a single child living in the home. The Seagrens are also trying to raise money to build a second home for 20 more children. Eventually they would like to open a school as well.

“This 5K is the first community-wide event we’ve ever done,” Thom said. He hopes to inform the community about the good things some people are trying to do right here at home.

Registration for the race is at 7:15 a.m. Saturday at Canyon View Park at the Gunnison Shelter. Online registration is available at www.childrenwithhope.org. The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m., costs $25, and authentic Kenyan prizes will be given to the winners in each age group.

Monetary donations can be made to Children With Hope, 627 24 1/2 Road, Suite D, Grand Junction 81505. Information about children’s sponsorships is available by calling 256-1610.