Lornah Kiplagat proves that it is possible to integrate professional sports with social awareness.

Not only is the Dutch national with Kenyan roots an athlete of calibre - in 2007 she won the world titles cross country and half marathon, became in 2006 world champion 20k road racing, conquered in 2005 the European title cross country and holds various world records -, she is also the founder of the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) in Iten, Kenya.

Situated 2,400 metres above sea level in the Rift Valley, the HATC gives young talented Kenyan female runners the opportunity to leave poverty behind and build a career in professional sports. Moreover, should a career in sport unexpectedly fall through, an educational programme still remains within the scope of possibilities. Lornah Kiplagat invests a substantial part of her prize money in this extraordinary form of 'development aid'.

With the Foundation, Lornah hopes to be able to give extra impetus to her socially oriented activities and seek out new missions

Recommendations committee

The Lornah Kiplagat Foundation has a recommendations committee which is composed of people who believe in and embrace the objectives of the Foundation.

Composition:

• Erica Terpstra: chairperson of the sports federation NOC*NSF and former state secretary for Sports;
• Paul Rosenmüler: former politician, television presenter/documentary maker/interviewer, and runner;
• Dolf Jansen: cabaret performer, radio- and television presenter, columnist and runner;
• Gerard Nijboer: marathon icon, among other things Olympic silver winner at the Moscow games in 1980 and European Champion in Athens in 1982;
• Ernesto 'Mr. Perfect' Hoost: 4-time world champion K1, ambassador of these mix of fighting sports.