Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie joined more than 1000 kids on a fun run on Saturday as he took a break from his racing commitments.

In an event organized by Right to Play (RTP) in collaboration with Worldwide Orphans (WWO) and UNICEF-Ethiopia, Gebrselassie, who is one of RTP’s national athlete ambassadors, led children from six different orphanages in a one-lap fun run at the Addis Ababa stadium and shared his lifetime achievements with the gathering.

“If you are strong and have self confidence, you can reach anywhere,” Gebrselassie said to the children. “You can reach anywhere you want. Everything is possible. The source for the problem of orphaned children starts from their own family. But we are all responsible for the life of these children.”

Gebrselassie’s presence and inspired at the occasion uplifted the spirits of the children, some of whom are HIV positive. And the 34-year old used the occasion to reiterate the need for home-grown solutions to the problems of his country.

“I appreciate the support and assistance of the international community and organisations, but the solution (to our problems) lies in our hands,” he said. “We do not have to expect too much from them.”

The event is yet another non-running activity in the life of Gebrselassie who is actively involved in many humanitarian and social commitments in his country. Aside from directing the Great Ethiopian Run, a non-governmental, non-profit organization that stages mass participation running events in Ethiopia, he is also goodwill ambassador for UNDP and Pathfinder International.

The two-time Olympic and four-time World 10,000m champion will return to action on 5 August when he takes part in the New York Half Marathon in the USA.

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF