In January we brought you the news that last year Street Child had raised a whopping £400,000 at the Sierra Leone marathon to help Ebola orphans.
It also came with the possibility of some worrying news; with Ebola still a major concern, the Sierra Leone Marathon looked a serious doubt for the coming years.
However, we are pleased to report that the Sierra Leone Marathon will in fact be taking place, as revealed by The Evening Standard.
The route – which will be the same as previous years – encounters several villages that were actually devastated by Ebola. However, it is highly anticipated the country will have defeated the virus by October, the same month as the marathon.
With this being the first marathon since the horrific outbreak, it gives runners a unique chance of directly helping the lives of thousands of Ebola affected-children.
Tom Dannatt, Street Child’s CEO, said: “The disease has been terrifying and had a devastating effect on the country. But cases are now very low, schools are open and by October we expect Sierra Leone to have defeated Ebola and it will firmly be time to rebuild. This marathon will be raising funds directly for the orphans and other victims of Ebola and we predict a lot of British and overseas runners, of course alongside hundreds of nationals, will take on this challenge to help out.”
He added: “The Sierra Leone Marathon has always been about two things: firstly, it is about fundraising – in a unique way, because it involves you actually going to the place and meeting the very people your fundraising effort are supporting; secondly, it is about this huge sporting challenge that also showcases the beauty and potential of Sierra Leone.
As well as the marathon itself there will also be a half-marathon and a 5K. To find where to enter, click here.
