16.2.11

Run for Congo Women charity 10K race

What are you doing on April 3rd? Why not join the Run for Congo Women charity race in Regents Park, London.
Now in its second year, the run is organised by Women for Women International, a charity which works with women in war torn countries, financing and supporting them to enrol in one year training programmes teaching job skills and business training. Ultimately facilitating women to regain control of their lives and rebuild what war and conflict has taken from them.

Everybody should have the right to education and knowledge, and so providing the resources for these ladies to do that seems a no-brainer.

The race on April 3rd focuses on raising money for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where fighting between government and rebel militia during the five year civil war, combined with rife disease and malnutrition has caused an estimated 3 million deaths, and has been quoted as being “possibly the worst emergency to unfold in Africa in recent decades” BBC.

The race is only 10 kilometres and costs just £10 entry - this amount covers Regents Park's logistics fees and does not go to the charity, that’s where fundraising comes in.

Runners are asked to raise at least £150, all of which goes straight to the charity, £150 is the amount of money it costs to provide training for one lady.

To register please email runforcongouk@womenforwomen.org

Did you know? That out of 100 women in DR Congo
• 40 are displaced
• 75 do not own a mattress
• 40 never attended school
• 50 eat only one meal per day
• 75 earn $1 or less per day
• 80 are from villages that have been attacked
• 50 of their spouses left because of war