On the morning of August 14, the southern tip of Haiti was struck by a M7.2 earthquake and aftershocks that, to date, have claimed the lives of over 2,200 people, with hundreds more still missing. Over 60,000 homes have been fully destroyed, over 70,000 other buildings damaged or destroyed, and 100,000's of people have been displaced. The mountainous terrain and decimated infrastructure has made relief efforts very challenging, leaving many stranded without immediate aid or support in the aftermath of the earthquakes and Tropical Storm Grace just two days later.

In a country still reeling from the devastating 2010 earthquake that took over 200,000 lives, and living in the wake of extreme poverty, political turmoil, and intensifying risk from hurricanes and tropical storms, the country is being plunged into an even greater humanitarian crisis. 

Organizations such as ActionAid  have opened emergency appeals to help the vulnerable who have been affected by this earthquake. Funds raised through this ActionAid emergency appeal will go to providing emergency shelter, food supplies, hygiene products and more to those most affected. In particular, the work of ActionAid seeks to provide welfare and health support to women and girls living in poverty and through humanitarian crises across the world. These funds will be vital for re-establishing the lives of women and girls in southern Haiti.

To raise funds for the victims of the 2021 Haiti Earthquake through ActionAid, I am running the Great Bristol Half Marathon on September 19th. As a personal goal for the cause, I will be aiming to complete this in under 90 minutes (<6:51 min/mile), and as my first full half marathon.

Please give whatever you can to this cause; all donations are greatly appreciated and will go directly to the ActionAid Emergency Appeal for Haiti: https://www.actionaid.org.uk/donate/emergency/haiti-earthquake-appeal

All donations are immediately distributed to the supplies and team currently working on the ground in Haiti, so your contribution can make an immediate impact for those affected.

Thank you for your generosity and aid.

Sam