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Underprivileged Kenyan children receive Christmas cheer from former American athlete Toby Tanser
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 25.12.25. | 14:51
Tanser, the founder of Shoe4Africa, visited the paediatric facility alongside partners, including former athlete and nurse Nancy Wagner
Former athlete, American author, and philanthropist Toby Tanser spent his Christmas Eve bringing hope and cheer to underprivileged children at the Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
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Tanser, the founder of Shoe4Africa, visited the paediatric facility alongside partners, including former athlete and nurse Nancy Wagner.
The team toured the hospital, interacted with young patients, and met healthcare workers providing specialised care to children drawn from the North Rift and neighbouring regions.
In collaboration with partners, the Shoe4Africa team distributed Christmas gifts to children admitted at the hospital, lifting spirits among patients and their families who were unable to leave the facility during the festive season.
The former athlete said the visit was aimed at giving hope to children who remain hospitalised due to critical illnesses, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds.
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“We have about 200 children who are stuck in the hospital because of serious medical conditions and come from underprivileged backgrounds.
When I first came to Kenya as an athlete, I saw children sharing wards with adults, and it deeply touched me. That is what inspired the idea of building a children’s hospital,” Tanser told Mozzart Sport.
He added that Shoe4Africa, in partnership with the government, is currently constructing the Harry J. Dyer Burns Unit and the Shoe4Africa Juli Anne Perry Children’s Cancer Hospital.
Once completed, the facility will be the first dedicated children’s cancer hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.
Wagner, a nurse based in Germany who works in a cancer hospital, praised the initiative and expressed her joy at spending Christmas with children undergoing treatment.
“Cancer is a deadly disease, and what Toby is doing here is remarkable. He has given children a proper place to receive specialised treatment,” she said.
Shoe4Africa partner Chelimo Saina encouraged well-wishers, especially Kenyans living abroad, to support the initiative through donations via the organisation’s website, shoe4africa, or by visiting the hospital.
MTRH management welcomed the visit, noting that such engagements not only boost morale among patients and staff but also help raise awareness about the urgent need for improved paediatric healthcare.
The Shoe4Africa Children’s Hospital is a state-of-the-art paediatric facility that continues to play a critical role in serving vulnerable children across the region.
Tanser’s Christmas visit is part of a long list of philanthropic efforts in Kenya.
In January, he launched the Shoe4Africa Alpha Running Porridge Club in Iten, a programme designed to nurture and feed the next generation of athletics talent.
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The club offers free training to children aged between 8 and 16, alongside a daily cup of porridge as part of their routine.
The initiative aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for young athletes while ensuring they receive proper nutrition.
Tanser hopes to eventually offer free breakfast to 1,000 children through the Shoe4Africa Running Club, many of whom attend public schools and often go to class without a proper meal.
First arriving in Kenya in 1995, Tanser witnessed firsthand the transformative power of athletics, training alongside legends such as Paul Tergat, Moses Tanui and Moses Kiptanui.
Over the years, he has become deeply involved in uplifting local communities, building six public schools in the region, starting the Shoe4Running 10km race in Iten, and now spearheading the construction of the first children’s cancer hospital in Eldoret through Shoe4Africa.
