It all started with
running in place for this small girl. Her name is Ruth, she is in primary
school - class 6, and she resides with Peace Corps Volunteer Gary Slate in
Aweregya Village, Eastern Region. She would watch Gary in awe as he ran
three times each week to villages surrounding theirs. Each day, as Gary was doing his final
stretches, prior to departing his house for a jog, out of the corner of his eye,
Ruth, could be seen jogging in place: stopping when Gary glanced in her
direction. One day, she garnered enough
confidence and asked Gary where he was running to. He told her, “Today, I am going to Atwedie,” to
which she replied, “I will go with you next time!” But, next time turned into
next time turned into next time, and Gary began thinking he was living the sequel to the movie, Groundhog Day, in
which the lead character portrayed by Bill Murray keeps reliving the same day
over and over again. Then one day Ruth, as she laced up a pair of running shoes,
asked Gary confidently, “So, where are we
running today?” To which, Gary replied:
"Today we go to Kwahu Oda,” another neighboring village. She turned and looked at Richard and Alfred,
her two brothers, who were gazing at her from a nearby doorway with doubtful
grins. “Ok,” she said to them, “if I go
and come with Nana Kwasi Ata (Gary’s local name), you both owe me biscuits.” They agreed, and jog she did! The girl that used to run in place, kept pace with
Gary the entire time. Upon their return
home, she was so proud and ran over to her brothers that now looked at her dumbfounded.
“Biscuits, going and come,” she said gleefully.
Since that memorable
morning jog, Ruth has run six times with her brother Gary, to distances
extending all the way to Kwahu Fodoa Junction – junction along the
Accra-Kumasi road, distance from their village: about 5 miles/10 km. Recently, she committed to running all the way
to Nkawkaw, their market town 13.1 miles (26.2 km) away, someday, with Gary.
Stay tuned, for further updates on Ruth's progress.
