Matthewos Kebede and his mother, four years after his surgery.
Where did the name
come from?
Rising to an altitude of over 10,000 feet on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Mount Entoto is the ultimate training ground for Ethiopia’s great distance runners. Numerous Olympic medals and world championships have been earned in the thin air of Mount Entoto’s rugged trails. For us, "Entoto" represents hard work, hope, and the determination to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. This is the same spirit that we so often witness in the doctors and nurses whose patients we sponsor.
Run with us and share the gift of health.
The Entoto Foundation is dedicated to helping Ethiopians gain access to much-needed medical care. Money raised by the Entoto Foundation helps pay for critical medical equipment, buy supplies and medicine, as well as the training of healthcare personnel in Ethiopia. Haile Gebrselassie Marathon partner, Moray Mountain Sports, has pledged $200,000 to the Entoto Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Some of our runners will also be raising funds for other charities and we look forward to supporting your efforts. Please contact us regarding how you may further help the Entoto Foundation or to inquire about other participating charities. The Entoto Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is run entirely by volunteers.
The Entoto Foundation
The inspiration for the Entoto Foundation comes from the case of Matthewos Kebede. As a young boy, Matthewos suffered an illness that left his heart severely damaged and in need of two heart valve transplants. At that time, there were no medical facilities in Ethiopia that could undertake such a risky procedure. For years Matthewos’ family sought help abroad, but their financial resources were limited and they had no contacts outside of Ethiopia.
With his health rapidly deteriorating, Matthewos’ brother approached several of Ethiopia’s top athletes who routinely traveled the world competing. One of these athletes, Belay Wolasha, approached his friends at Elite Racing, a U.S.-based event management company. They and Belay began working together in search of a hospital to treat Matthewos. There were many obstacles, Matthewos would need a visa to another country, no easy matter for a young Ethiopian, and although several American surgeons had volunteered their services, the hospital costs were prohibitive. Meanwhile, Matthewos was becoming so weak that his chances of having a successful surgery were declining.
After months of searching, Dr. Krishna Kumar, a highly respected cardiologist at AIMS Hospital in Kerala, India, offered to help. At Dr. Kumar’s request, Matthewos was granted a visa by the Indian Embassy. With fear that he could not survive the flight to India, a blood transfusion was hastily arranged and Matthewos finally began his journey.
Today, seven years later, Matthewos is healthy and a successful university student. He has a strong handshake, and a flight of stairs no longer leaves him exhausted and gasping for air. His future is promising. His surgery had been difficult, but AIMS surgeon, Dr. Satya Prasad skillfully replaced two of Matthewos’ heart valves and repaired a third. This first-class and life-saving medical care he received cost less than $4,500. There are many more young Ethiopians such as Matthewos who deserve a chance at a productive and rewarding life. Working together, we can help them on their way.
Photo above: Doctors Don Pearson and Einar Eriksen examine a patient sponsored by the Entoto Foundation.