26.2 Miles of Hope for Children Facing Cancer

This is John-Pierre "J.P." Abilla. I am reaching out to share a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who is supporting my fundraising campaign for the Cape Town Marathon! Together, we are making great progress toward our $2,500 goal to support Shoe4Africa. Your generous contributions are directly helping build Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Public Children’s Cancer Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya, giving thousands of children facing pediatric cancer access to life-saving care. Every donation—no matter the size—brings us one step closer to making this hospital a reality and changing lives for generations to come.

My running journey didn’t start with a finish line in mind - it started with my son, Mateo.

Years ago, as we searched for an inclusive sport where Mateo, who is on the autism spectrum, could feel supported and thrive, we found our community through Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA). Coaching and running alongside him for his first Los Angeles Marathon in 2015 changed my life forever. It taught me that running isn't just about individual achievement; it's a powerful bridge for community, inclusion, and hope.

Since that first race with Mateo, I made a promise to use every mile to lift-up others. That promise carried me through marathons in Chicago, New York, Berlin, Athens, and Boston—raising funds for children's programs, hospitals, cancer treatment, and autism support along the way—and ultimately completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors.

Now, I am taking my next big step in Cape Town as Africa is preparing to host its first World Major Marathon!

I am incredibly honored to partner with Team Shoe4Africa to raise funds for an extraordinarily urgent cause: building Sub-Saharan Africa’s First Public Children’s Cancer Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Right now, 9 out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa do not survive—simply due to a lack of specialized care facilities. Shoe4Africa is actively changing that reality, having already built East and Central Africa’s first public children's hospital, which treats over 400 young patients daily.

Hearing the stories of these resilient children and the dedicated staff treating them deeply moved me. Every child, no matter where they are born, deserves access to life-saving care and the chance to grow up, play, and thrive.

Looking forward to hearing from many of you - excited to run with a purpose!

Thank you all again for your incredible encouragement, generosity, and belief in this mission.

Best - JPA

J.P. Abilla