2012 Julius Achon Run – 1,500 Compete

On November 9, 2012, Julius Achon again returned to his former primary school, Orum Primary in Orum, Uganda, where he and a group of Portland-based Nike volunteers hosted the 2^nd annual Nike sponsored Julius Achon cross country meet. As in 2011, the event was a huge success; this year’s crowd even larger than last. Competitors, teachers, school officials and families walking miles each way to attend the Achon Run were treated to 7 races (3 boys, 3 girls, and an open race for all members of the community) with 21 schools represented and a total of 1,500 runners. Each runner received a custom Nike Dri-fit shirt designed for the event, with trophies and prizes (useful items like plates and utensils) awarded to the top three finishers in each race.  Julius, his former high school coach Chris Mugisha, and Nike representatives Risha Kelley, Simi Adeagbo, and Brandon Workman organized and conducted the event. The total crowd, including spectators, was estimated at over 6,000! Like 2011, 1,000 kilos of beans and 1,000 kilos of rice were cooked in enormous kettles and everyone was fed.  Julius notes that the goal of the run, the only one of its kind in the 20+ years since civil war broke out in the North in 1988, is to inspire children in the area and encourage them to continue in sports, and hopefully produce the next Julius Achon from this war-torn region.