Starting on the 25th May, to fundraise for the International Rescue Committee, a team of 10 Global Ambassadors and 4 staff from Downe House are going to run, walk or cycle 100km in an 'Around the World Relay'. Over the next 2 weeks, each day, a member of the team will complete their portion of the 100km and then pass their virtual baton onto the next team member. 

The Global Ambassador team have decided that more needs to be done to help less developed countries deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. People living in countries with conflict and crisis lack basic medical facilities and equipment and are at risk from COVID-19. The IRC estimates that the most fragile countries could see up to one billion cases of Coronavirus, leading to between 1.7 to 3.2 million deaths, in 34 conflict-affected countries. In Burkina Faso, there are only 11 ventilators for 20.9 million people. In Yemen, only half of the hospitals are still fully functional and some two-thirds of the population cannot access healthcare. 

Amongst the amazing things the IRC does in these areas, it equips aid workers with surgical face masks and other essential protective equipment, delivers food and medicine to refugees, installs hand-washing stations in shelters for migrants. Just £39 of your money would provide a quarantine pack for a family including basic medical provisions and water.

We would be so grateful if you could please give generously as we take on the relay to raise awareness and money for this very worthy cause. Any amount would be hugely appreciated.

(Image 1 - Maruf Hassan/IRC and image 2 - Macro Aviotti/IRC)