Citizen TV anchor, Yvonne Okwara, struggled to withhold tears while narrating how iconic athlete Eliud Kipchoge touched her heart during one of her most heartbreaking moments in life.
On Thursday, October 17, Okwara told fellow News Gang presenters, how she was forced to delay her late brother Albert's memorial to celebrate Kipchoge's sub-two-hour INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
The endeared anchor recalled that her family had converged by the graveside in a sorrowful memorial of her brother. However, they could not let such a historic moment pass without notice.
"This is a very personal moment for me. I lost my brother a year ago and Kipchoge's feat found us at the most unlikely place. I will get emotional but I'll try and tell this story.
"On Saturday, October 12, we had a memorial for my deceased brother by the graveside, but we had our phones with us. We literally delayed the occasion as we were to start it at 11am, same time as Kipchoge's special moment," Okwara recalled.
"My uncles, aunts, mum and cousins went wild with celebrations after Kipchoge won. We were literally celebrating by the graveside," Okwara stated.
Her family then went on with the planned memorial after joining Kenyans and the world in witnessing the historic marathon. Kipchoge ran the 42km stretch in a record 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds.
However, what astounded Okwara, was how another mourning family at the same cemetery cut off their memorial in a hilarious but shocking manner.
"There was another family at the other graveside. They came by our side to celebrate then went off to pray. What shocked me was that they never prayed at all.
"One guy shouted 1:59 twice in honour of Kipchoge and then recited the Catholic phrase (In the name of The Father The Son and The Holy Spirit) and they walked away celebrating. That was a simple hilarious prayer in an unlikely place around the graveyard," Okwara narrated.
The anchor then seized the moment to appreciate Kipchoge.
"I want to thank Kipchoge for making such a hard moment that easier," Okwara lauded.
Video courtesy of Citizen TV.
