Story
As you may know I was out in Uganda in February. Before any real restrictions had started here in the U.K, Uganda had begun screening people coming into the country. Had we arrived a week later, their borders would have been shut. Uganda do not have the healthcare services to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak in their country.
Whilst I was there I met families who were struggling in poverty everyday. I met young boys and girls who were living on the streets of Kampala with nowhere to sleep or food to eat. On the other hand I met children who had been sponsored by donors through Abaana who are now at University and working part-time jobs and allowing their families to escape poverty. I met boys who had been rescued from the streets and now live at Abaana's New Life Homes. Me and Katie decided to sponsor a boy named Swaibuh who has had his life completely changed because of Abaana.
We all know the impact COVID-19 has had on our lives here. But being in constant contact with people in Uganda, I've realised that our worries about having to get a hair cut at home, or whether we can meet in groups of 6 or 10 are small compared to those in Uganda. No furlough scheme, no benefits for those unable to work, no food in the cupboards or savings in the bank to rely on. People in Uganda are dying from hunger. They are dying from COVID, and I believe we have to do something.
In my head, a child dying of starvation in another country shouldn't require me to run 100 miles to persuade anyone to help them. In all honesty, my hope is that you give towards charity because your heart breaks for those people, not because your impressed by an ability of mine to run in my safe, secure environment. So i've been putting off a challenge like this because of that reason. But frankly, children are still dying, poverty will still exist so I can't sit on my comfy sofa and watch. So i'm going to run 100 miles in October (the longest distance i have ever ran in one day is 4 miles!). I also hate running! Abaana's plan is to raise £1 a mile, but I want to raise £20 a mile because I believe in your generosity and how it can help others!
So I have 3 options for you:
- Hit Donate and sponsor me.
- Give to another charity that is doing brilliant work and saving lives.
- Do a fundraiser yourself.
Here is the link for Abaana's 6000 mile campaign:
www.justgiving.org/campaign/abaana6000