I'm running a marathon entirely uphill, ascending the equivalent height of Mt Kilimanjaro or 55 Victoria Falls (6,000m) on Saturday, 6th January, to support educational projects in rural Zimbabwe (via Zimbabwe Educational Trust).

Why?

Education is a key pathway to alleviate poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. However, many Zimbabwean children still lack access to education, hindering their ability to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil their potential.

Zimbabwe Educational Trust (ZET) is a small UK-based charity dedicated to addressing these challenges through three core initiatives by supporting local partner organisations: Trinity Project ; Rafiki Girls Centre ; and Foundations for Farming.

Trinity Project:

Nearly 50% of Zimbabwean children lack a birth certificate, which often denies them access to education, healthcare, police services, social welfare, formal employment, and voting. Since 2008, ZET has helped 7,700 children and 2,600 adults gain access to such documentation. This has been achieved through direct case support, community awareness campaigns, Advocate and Committee training, and engagement with various stakeholders and the government.

Rafiki Girls Centre:

With the aim to bridge gender inequality in rural Zimbabwe, this vocational centre has supported 1,440 young women to date. The programme involves life skills training, specialisation in various fields, and work experience to prepare individuals for financial independence.

Foundations for Farming:

Adoption of the 'Pfumvudza' farming method by primary schools and rural communities has prevented chronic malnutrition for 35,000 children. The sustainable method has proven more effective than traditional farming and a reliance on cash crops, increasing yields 10-fold and adapting well to the challenges of climate change typical in sub-Saharan Africa.

Your donations will directly contribute to these impactful initiatives.

What I'm doing:

I'm taking on the challenge of running a marathon entirely uphill, ascending the equivalent height of Mt Kilimanjaro or 55 Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls and an icon of Zimbabwe's natural beauty. This involves ascending my local Crowcombe Hill (180m) in Somerset 34+ times along a 1.1km road. I'm hoping to complete this endeavour in around 12 hours, climbing a total elevation that surpasses the tallest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro (5,895m).

Any donations, regardless of their size, will be greatly appreciated, as they will directly support Zimbabwe Educational Trust's inspiring mission and help alleviate poverty through education.

Thank you!