Third Annual Kep Trio welcomes more than 100 participants!
Kep is a small and sleepy town, usually renowned for delicious food at the crab shacks. But clearly changes were afoot as preparations were finalised for the Kep Trio 2010 – banners appeared in the street, the route markers went up and a truck load of bicycles arrived.
The Third Annual Kep Trio saw over 100 people join the 10k fun bike ride, 10k run and half marathon. Participants aged from 16 – 60 came from around the world to take part in events over the weekend of March 6 – 7, 2010. Everyone shared the common purpose of raising funds for Hand in Hand Cambodia, the five year integrated community development project being undertaken by BABC in collaboration with the Kep based Knai Bang Chatt and the Belgian foundation Friends of the Rainbow School.
As well as raising vital funds for this project, the event enables participants to see the challenges faced by communities living in rural Cambodia. It also gives a chance for cross cultural interaction and allows participants to see for themselves how the projects they support have a positive and sustainable impact on the local community.
 On Saturday, the buzz of anticipation was evident, with riders waiting by the Pagoda, keen and ready for the start of the race. A horn sounded and everyone was off! The 10k fun bike route took participants through scenic paddy fields, beside a pepper plantation and over a reservoir. Local villagers cheered on the riders, who ended their route at the Chamcar Bei village Community Learning Center. There they were able to see some of the results of work by BABC volunteers - school buildings have been painted and local people have a (rough!) football pitch to enjoy sporting activities.
Everyone enjoyed a great buffet at the Sailing Club on Saturday evening. Participants were joined by family and friends and all were entertained by a creative dance performance by Epic Arts, an organisation supporting young people with disabilities and then by Tiny Toones, which uses break-dance to empower young people.
 All became more serious on Sunday, with the run participants up to catch their 5.30am buses. The half marathon runners set off first, cheered on by the 10k participants. Runners headed off along the beautiful coast, watching the sunrise on the way. Again all participants were able to delight in the beautiful and scenic route and locals provided cheers of encouragement along the way to the Community Vocational Training Center in Chamcar Bei.
Once at the center, celebrations and a ceremony took place, with awards going to the top three male and female participants in each race. Winners were awarded with prizes fitting the event – gifts in their names ranging from new birthing equipment for the local health center to a new latrine or water filter for local families. The ceremony was attended by local officials including the Governor of Kep Province.
 Everyone was also able to enjoy locally made food and see some of the results of fundraising from the first two Kep Trios. Vocational projects supported as part of the development programme, such as Eco Sew, Eco Nut and Eco Weave are all based at the Center, and crafts made by local people were snapped up by visitors. Participants and supports alike were also able to view locals making products and tour round the center to see the work being done to develop and support agricultural training and animal husbandry. All these projects provide new skills for local people which in turn aim to bring sustainable improvements to their quality of life.
Grateful thanks go to our sponsors, participants and supporters in making this year’s event a great success. The Kep Trio is now firmly established as an annual event and we look forward to building on past successes next year for the Kep Trio 2011.
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