Shoe4Africa will support the Kiberia Project. Kiberia is a slum in Nairobi with over 1.2 million inhabitants, who live below the standard. Actor Anthony Edwards, famous for his role as Dr. Mark Greene in the television series “ER”, has taken the initiative for this project together with Natalie Portman. The people of Kiberia live packed together on a landfill the size of Central Park. There is no clean water and no sewer system. Many people have no shoes, which leads to worm infections. The mortality rate is dramatically high.

Shoe4Africa is a real non-profit organisation, aiming for more awareness of AIDS in Africa, and particularly in Kenya. They organise running events where people receive education about AIDS and free AIDS tests are offered. To reach the often traditional tribes, free running shoes are handed out and training sessions are organised. With the support of famous athletes, Shoe4Africa is able to convince the Africans of the importance of the fight against AIDS and HIV.

Volunteers from Shoe4Africa will be present at the ING NYC Marathon finish line on November 5th (one day after the actual marathon) where they will collect shoes between seven am and two pm. Both adult and child sizes are welcome.

The collected shoes will be shipped to Nairobi by Shoe4Africa and used in March 2008 at special events in Kiberia.