Rebecca Cheptegei, an Olympic distance runner, suffered a 75% burn to her body during the ordeal.
According to authorities, a Ugandan athlete who lives in Kenya was burned by her lover and is currently undergoing treatment for 75% of her burn injuries. Distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who placed 44th in the 2024 Paris Olympics marathon with a time of two hours, 32 minutes, and 14 seconds, is said to have been attacked in her home in western Trans Nzoia County.
During a fight on Sunday (September 1), Dickson Ndiema, Cheptegei’s lover, bought a can of gasoline, poured it on her, and lit her on fire, according to Trans Nzoia police commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom.
Both Ndiema and herself are undergoing specialized care at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret City after Ndiema also suffered burn injuries.
Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter purchased land in Trans Nzoia so she could be close to the several sports training facilities in the county.
Before the fire started, the couple was heard fighting over the property where the house was erected, according to a report submitted by the local chief.
Local media sources report that Cheptegei’s condition is critical.
On social media, the Ugandan Athletics Federation (UAF) has addressed the issue.
“We regret to announce that our athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who competed in the Olympics, has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret,” the organization tweeted today (September 3).
People have subsequently offered their support for the Olympian as she heals from the traumatic incident.
“Wishing her a quick recovery,” one person wrote.
A second user expressed similar feelings, writing, “Sad to hear this. Wishing her a swift recovery.”
“There are no words. “Best wishes for her recovery,” said someone else.
A different person wrote, “This is so tragic.” I wish her a swift recovery and hope that she receives justice.
Sadly, Cheptegei’s case is not the first of its kind.
Damaris Muthee, a Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete, was discovered dead in 2022 after a post-mortem investigation revealed she had been strangled, while Agnes Tirop, a two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medalist, was found stabbed to death in 2021.
Veronica Merritt: A Devoted Mother Overcoming Financial Challenges
Veronica Merritt, a 45-year-old New York single mother, is courageously expressing her financial hardships in supporting her huge family of twelve. Veronica is committed to her kids and isn’t going to give up even in the face of criticism and scorn.
Veronica is honest enough to admit that she now needs food stamps to feed her family because of the growing cost of living. Due to her enormous annual food expenses, Veronica has turned to less expensive staples like ramen noodles, macaroni, and hot dogs. Veronica is certain that her children are her greatest blessing, even in spite of the criticism she receives over her finances.
Veronica uses her platform as a TikTok content creator to share her experiences as a single mother of twelve kids. Her family’s monthly food stamp payments of $1,400 are insufficient to meet their food costs. In the past, Veronica was able to support her family on just $500 per month. She predicts that, however, the existing situation will require $2,000 to $3,000 a month to cover the cost of basic meals.
For Veronica and her family, there is more to their financial burden than just groceries. Household finances have been severely impacted by inflation; the average American household now spends $1,080 a month on groceries alone. Apart from her usual spending, Veronica also has to pay for school supplies, housing, and special events like birthdays and Christmas, totaling an annual expenditure of $58,000.
Veronica is nevertheless strong and resourceful in spite of these obstacles. She is committed to selling her paintings and working on TikTok to provide for her family. Even though Veronica’s TikTok revenue varies, she never loses faith and takes initiative to look for ways to boost her income so she can support her family.
Veronica became a mother for the first time at the young age of 14, when she gave birth to her first child. She went on to welcome 11 additional children throughout the years, all of whom brought her happiness and contentment. Veronica loves the close relationship she has with each of her twelve children and treats them all equally, despite the challenges that come with being a single mother of twelve.
Veronica’s love for her kids never wavers in the face of criticism and judgment. She is determined to give kids a kind and loving environment. Although Veronica is aware of the difficulties in providing for a big family on a tight budget, she is thankful for her children and maintains an optimistic outlook for the future.
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