London Charity Founder to Run to All 20 Premier League Stadiums for Africa

Max Keens, a 31-year-old charity founder from north London, is set to begin a 35-day challenge starting June 1, 2024, to run to all 20 Premier League football stadiums in England.

Keens aims to raise funds for his charity, Project Africa, which focuses on building sustainable football pitches for communities across Africa.

Keens founded Project Africa in 2021 after a volunteer trip to Africa where he witnessed children playing football on concrete and gravelly car parks. Inspired to make a difference, he established the UK-registered charity to provide children in Africa with access to proper football pitches and educational opportunities. To date, Project Africa has already helped construct two pitches in Kenya and Uganda.

The upcoming challenge will see Keens running around 20 miles each day, starting at St James' Park in Newcastle and finishing at the London Stadium in Stratford. He will be accompanied by one of the charity's trustees, Leendert Coene, who will drive a campervan and document the journey. Keens, who is not an experienced runner, hopes to raise enough funds to build four more pitches in locations such as Kenya and Uganda.

Why this matters: Keens' charity run highlights the power of sports in creating positive change and providing opportunities for underprivileged communities. The funds raised through this challenge will have a lasting impact on the lives of children in Africa, giving them a safe space to play, learn valuable life skills, and foster their love for football.

Each football pitch costs around £4,000 to £5,000 to build, and Project Africa works closely with local coaches and organizations to ensure the sustainability of the projects.

"The charity works with local coaches and charities to build pitches that can be used for football as well as teaching life skills to children who cannot afford to go to school," Keens explained. The charity's goal is to create lasting change by providing children with a platform to develop their skills both on and off the pitch.

As Keens prepares for his 35-day journey across England, he remains focused on the bigger picture – making a difference in the lives of children in Africa through the power of football. With the support of donors and the determination to complete this challenging feat, Keens is set to bring the joy of the beautiful game to more communities in need.

Key Takeaways

• Max Keens, 31, to run to 20 Premier League stadiums in 35 days for charity.
• Charity, Project Africa, aims to build sustainable football pitches in Africa.
• Project Africa has already constructed 2 pitches in Kenya and Uganda.
• Keens hopes to raise funds to build 4 more pitches in Africa.
• Each pitch costs £4,000-£5,000 to build, with focus on sustainability.