Run Comrades Ultra-Marathon For Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Africa

On May 30, 2010 Darren and Mark will do something they admit is a little crazy: run "Comrades", a 89km (56mi) Ultra-Marathon through South Africa, www.comrades.com. Darren is originally from Scotland and Mark is from the US. They met in Dubai where both work as CEOs, enjoy camping and BBQs with their families and attend the same church.

Their adventure started after Darren began thinking about ways to raise money for the poorest of the poor: kids who have been abandoned, orphaned and/or suffer from HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. Encouraged by a close friend from business school, Jonty Nel, they came up with the idea of running Comrades to inspire people to join together in raising money for excellent organizations that can make a real and lasting difference. Hearing about the plan, Mark said "running 89 kilometers sounds insane...but count me in!"

That started what has become a grueling 10 months of training and preparation for the big day. Despite the fact that neither of us are distance runners, we are totally committed to running, walking or crawling across the finish line to finish the job we've started. Comrades is sometimes called "The Ultimate Human Race" and we are on a mission to complete it.

We will direct the money raised to the Ubuntu Education Fund. Their website is www.ubuntufund.org. The Ubuntu Education Fund was founded by Jacob Lief and Malizole “Banks” Gwaxula with the belief that every child has the right to quality education and healthcare.

Ubuntu's ongoing aim is to ensure that children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are able to make healthy choices—giving children in the townships of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, access to the opportunities in life that they deserve. To achieve this, Ubuntu has developed a child-centred approach to address the specific challenges within their communities. While each Ubuntu programme focuses on different aspects of these challenges, they work together to form a comprehensive response.

Today Ubuntu provides education and health services that range from prevention, care and support, clinical services and empowerment and training. Their approach has a demonstrated history of success which has received substantial recognition and acclaim. Far more importantly, however, is the fact that Ubuntu has truly changed the lives of tens of thousands of children in their community and in doing so is changing the world for the better.

Will you join with us in supporting Ubuntu as they serve children and their community in South Africa? Please feel free to post any questions on Razoo or email Mark at mark.stoleson@gmail.com or Darren at dsutherland@sanspeurint.com.