2015 – My parents, Peggy Noll, and the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, retired Vice Chancellor of UCU; and my three children wearing their Global 5K shirts.

My ‘baby’ is growing up!

Pictorial
2015 – My parents, Peggy Noll, and the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, retired Vice Chancellor of UCU; and my three children wearing their Global 5K shirts.
2015 – My parents, Peggy Noll, and the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, retired Vice Chancellor of UCU; and my three children wearing their Global 5K shirts.

By Abby Bartels
Since the Global5K (blame it on Covid) hasn’t been an annual event (having been held 7 times in the last 9 years), here is my brief “origin” story of the Global5K that was my first Uganda Partners contribution when our family moved from the Uganda Christian University (UCU),  Mukono campus, back to the United States.

The Global5K (translated from kilometers to 3.2 miles) is a fun scholarship fundraising event organized by UCU students, staff and alum with many connected to the Uganda Studies Program (USP) comprised of Americans who have spent at least a semester studying at UCU.

There is no way that I can begin to capture and honor the hundreds of people (especially USP alumni and UCU alumni) who have helped along the way both in the US and in Uganda.  I’m so grateful for this community, which I call my “village” that’s helped me raise this Global 5K “baby.”

Not only am I grateful for all the support we’ve received in creating and developing the Global5K, but I know that countless UCU students have benefited from the scholarship funds raised by the effort and are beyond grateful for this partnership in their education and development.

Sitting in our house in Pennsylvania,  I urge you to participate in the 2023 Global 5K from wherever you are.  It is the weekend of October 6-8.  Register here. Additionally,  I offer my personal pictorial documentation of the Global5K from 2015 to now.

2016 – My husband,  Mark, and Brian Dennison, formerly with the UCU Law faculty; and a selfie of me with Mark, Brian, and some of our kids.
2016 – My husband,  Mark, and Brian Dennison, formerly with the UCU Law faculty; and a selfie of me with Mark, Brian, and some of our kids.
2017 – Two photos of participating USP alumni.
2017 – Two photos of participating USP alumni.
2018 – UCU campus participants in Global 5K.
2018 – UCU campus participants in Global 5K.
2020: USP staff sheltering in place and UCU alumni participate while socially distanced!
2020: USP staff sheltering in place and UCU alumni participate while socially distanced!
2021 – USP alum on hikes in USA and at Sipi Falls, Uganda.
2021 – USP alum on hikes in USA and at Sipi Falls, Uganda.