http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog Mon, 13 May 2013 10:48:00 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:48:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/daniel-raffos-story/ Nescott sports tutor running marathon through Sierra Leone in memory of friend   A sports tutor from North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) will run a marathon through Sierra Leone this month to raise money for a children’s charity and in memory of his friend. Daniel Raffo, 33, is running on May 26, in aid of Street Child, which works to build schools, train teachers and work with youngsters sleeping on the streets. Mr Raffo will be running in memory of his childhood friend Lance Corporal Nicky Mason, a soldier who died aged 26 in Afghanistan in 2008 after his patrol was hit by an explosion. Mr Raffo said: “To be honest I’m pretty nervous about the marathon, but it will be an honour to run with Nicky’s name on my back. “Nicky was a really special guy, he was a great friend and one of those people everyone wants to be around. I know he’d be proud of me for running this marathon.” The father of two, from North Ockendon in Havering who teaches sport to BTEC students, will spend a few days with Street Child visiting their projects following the race.   He has previously worked in Asia teaching orphans for a charity, but said he had been motivated to run the Sierra Leone marathon after watching Blood Diamond. The 2006 film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was set in the Sierra Leone Civil War and covers issues including gems being used to fund arms deals, the gruesome atrocities committed during the conflict, and the use of child soldiers. He said: “Becoming a father makes you see things in a completely different light, because you think of your own children. “They’re a little worried about me going out to Africa, but they understand why I’m doing it and I think they’re quite proud of their dad.”   To donate, visit  justgiving.com/Daniel-Raffo .   By Rachel Bishop,  11th May 2013   Copied from:  http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10414232.Sports_tutor_running_marathon_through_Sierra_Leone_in_memory_of_friend/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/daniel-raffos-story/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/daniel-raffos-story/ Mon, 13 May 2013 10:48:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/a-word-from-one-of-our-fundraisers/ Street Child and fundraising Austerity? Economic restraint, austerity and cutbacks are the watchwords of this decade. People across Europe are starting to lose that sense of entitlement that seems to have gone hand-in-hand with post-war complacency, and for the first time in a number of generations, our children are perhaps less certain about the future than we were. We know who the star casualties of this meltdown are: first-time buyers, the under-waged and the infirm. But what about charities... organisations whose very existence is contingent on the rest of us all having just a little more than we really need? As one might expect, donations to charity are falling... they fell by 20% in 2011/12, meaning the public gave a staggering £1.7bn less to charity. The numbers of people giving to charity have also declined - as well as the amounts they gave, according to a report compiled by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Combined with public spending cuts, this represents a potentially severe blow for charities which rely on donations to provide vital frontline services. If donations continue to fall, many charities will face profound difficulties in carrying on their work and the people and communities they serve will suffer. And yet... Street Child managed to raise more than a quarter of a million pounds through its 2012 inaugural marathon and hopes to surpass that figure by a conspicuous margin this year. Many of those of us who took part in last year's Makeni marathon continue to serve as ambassadors for the event and the charity. So, whilst trying to get other people to part with their money is not exactly second nature unless you work for HMRC, it is perhaps our first-hand experience of what Street Child has achieved that makes asking for money on its behalf slightly easier. It's very difficult to take even a cursory wade through the murky depths of cyberspace nowadays without being coaxed and cajoled into giving up your money: a new conservatory, whiter-than-white teeth, an innovative way to boost your company’s Google rankings. Or - sometimes more annoyingly - you are “guilted” into doing something charitable: sponsoring a donkey, paying for a child’s clarinet lessons... or providing sanitation infrastructure for a village in the third world. I have spent the last few weeks seeding my friends' and colleagues' in-boxes with the latter... and feeling terribly guilty in the process.  But I have been astonished by the enthusiasm and generosity with which people have responded to my badgering - yet again - for a cause which is so very far removed from their everyday concerns. And my guilt has dissipated into the firmament as my anticipation and excitement over returning to Sierra Leone have become more real.   Why is our plea different from all the rest? The truth is, it probably isn't. Modern living - much like the living that came before it - is not perfect. And its imperfections have generated a plethora of Worthy Causes, along with an army of people willing to shout about them, jump out of a plane for them, or run the most number of marathons in an ill-fitting mankini in order to raise other people's awareness of just how worthy their particular worthy cause is.   Our cause is no more and no less worthy than the next Most causes seek to bridge the gap between those who can and those who cannot... those who have and those who have not. Or they seek to right a wrong, champion an underdog or bring the masses alive to a terrible injustice. Some of them, on their own, may appear risible. Why should we care about special underpasses for hedgehogs, or the demise of the badger... or the imminent collapse of a centuries-old church roof? Many of these "causes" hold progress to account. They temper that inexorable forward march, ensuring that - every once in a while - we take a look back. The world may indeed be becoming a more comfortable place in which to live for some. But at what cost? Shouldn't we do our level best to make sure that things get better for everyone? What we do One of the things I have long given up doing is trying to explain to non-runners why I run. They don't get it and I don't get why they don't get it. They see it as futile and think I am wasting my time. That's fine: I don't get why they don't run. Aren't they squandering their legs by only using them for - well, walking and showing off their Marks & Spenser's trousers? The point is, within the oft-mentioned but seldom-glimpsed or understood "Grand Scheme of Things", much of what we do or avoid doing is futile. Indeed, the entire history of human endeavour might be seen as an inconceivably large number of exercises in futility.... And somehow, supersonic travel, light-weight travel irons and penicillin have all emerged from this. Running for no good reason may indeed seem like a strange thing to do. But the fact that we have somehow succeeded in establishing a tradition of intertwining ambitious sporting endeavours with raising both awareness and money... well, I see that as a rather glorious and serendipitous evolution of human custom.   In these last couple of weeks before this year’s marathon, let’s see what we can do to make sure that it touches as many people’s lives as possible. Let’s do all we can to make our friends, families and colleagues look beyond their own plights and preoccupations and see a bigger picture. Both the charity and the event have already been the focus of tremendous media coverage (beautifully documented by Ruth Emmett of Runners World, lavishly photographed by Mark Gillet and relentlessly pushed by Lewis Aldridge, Mark Maughan and the rest of the SC team). Let’s capitalise on all this exposure, harness all the enthusiasm and goodwill that Street Child has so far generated and make sure that, henceforth, Runners World decides to drop the words “quite” and “possibly” from their description of this event as “quite possibly the world's most worthwhile marathon”.     Josh Ord-Hume May 2013 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/a-word-from-one-of-our-fundraisers/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/a-word-from-one-of-our-fundraisers/ Fri, 10 May 2013 14:59:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/the-maughan-family/ Mark Maughan, who started as a volunteer for Street Child of Sierra Leone, became last year part of the team organizing the Sierra Leone Marathon. Having now the Marathon as his full-time job, Mark was not able to do much fundraising. However, proving that little things can also make a difference, he suggested to his friends on Facebook that for his Birthday, instead of buying him a drink, they could donate some money to Street Child.   Mark’s younger brother Michael, who is going to take part on the Marathon on the 26 th of May, also had an original idea for fundraising. Michael is planning to shave is hair off in one of the venues he works at and make a night of it. Michael got the nickname of ‘Justin Bieber’ at work due to his long hair. People who know him and know how much he loves his hair understand what a radical change this will be for Michael.   Mark and Michael’s mum, Helen, is also going to be taking part on the Sierra Leone Marathon this year. Although her fundraising ideas are not so unusual she was already able to fundraise £800. In order to fundraise for Street Child, Helen has thrown several events such as a raffle and a charity night with a kids disco. “I’m really excited to go out to Sierra Leone, take part in the Marathon and see what Mark has been involved in. After he returned from working on the first-ever run last year he told all of his family and friends about what an amazing experience he had and the stories really inspired me to go and see what it was all about” Helen explained.   The Maughan family is indeed an example of fundraising spirit and for that we congratulate them. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/the-maughan-family/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/the-maughan-family/ Fri, 10 May 2013 13:05:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/kerry-thorpes-preparation-and-fundraising/ The past weekend offered the UK sunshine and humidity - not quite as much as Sierra Leone I'm sure - but nevertheless I tried to make the most of it and worked up a sweat on a long run across Thames Path, from Brixton to Battersea to Putney and back around again. I tried to monitor my water intake as I ran and listened to a cheesy summer sun playlist to keep me going. Whilst running I imagined how much the scenery would change when we make our trip to Sierra Leona, from the pictures I've seen I know it will be beautiful. This evening I'm off to Bikram yoga to stretch out those muscles - more exercise in the heat, figure it's got to help me prepare!   In the midst of the exercise I'm trying my hand at baking so that I can convince my office to donate big on the bake sale. I'm going to cover all bases - from chocolate and extra chocolate to dairy and gluten free - I want to make sure noone can avoid digging deep and giving money to a great cause. Does baking count as another form of hot exercise?! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/kerry-thorpes-preparation-and-fundraising/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/kerry-thorpes-preparation-and-fundraising/ Fri, 10 May 2013 12:50:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/mick-knighs-preparation-for-the-marathon/ I signed up pretty late for this year’s run. But as I am not the kind of person who turns down a challenge, I thought that with six weeks filled with training I will be fine. In fact, my trip to Sierra Leone with my travel buddy Ben is also going to help Street Child in another way. The race director, who is my good friend Lewis asked us if we’d put together some short movies for use by Street Child HQ online and elsewhere. Gambia Bird, the official airline for the event, also showed interest in showing these movies on their business flights for the foreseeable future to gain some exposure and possible sponsors.    One of the films we’re planning to make, will be 'a week in the life of a runner’ to help attract future participants to the race. Armed with a couple of HD cameras, we hope to capture our seven day adventure from start to finish: from the airport, our arrival, the local life, the Street Child Team, our fellow runners, the build-up and of course the race itself. So the task of filming the Elite's runners finish as well as the start and middle has given us a reprieve: just 13.1 miles to train for, phew!   This past Bank holiday saw me munch, well maybe slowly chew through ten miles in the mid afternoon heat. So dressed in black,  more than enough water and a head cam with power pack attached, I headed off through suburbia like an over eager community support officer who’d had his bike pilferred.    Eventually hitting the A road to Chelmsford, with the sun on my back and countless toots of support from passing soft tops, the run felt great. By passing concrete storm drains every 10 strides alongside the hard shoulder, slipping into an early steady pace should be pretty easy. But the banks that run next to arterial roads are un-predictable to say the least. They’re great for that uneven-ness strength building for the ankles, with the added bonus of being able to map your distance in the absence of a sat nav device. Throw a deep wheel gouge, a car bumper or a bit of road-kill into the mix certainly helps keeps the mind focused too. A fox, several pheasant and alas a big mature badger body hidden in the long grass are the last things you want to be rinsing of your runners.   On the return leg, a plain transit pulled in very sharply after passing me, possible kidnapping I thought? Well, I guess these roads are pretty boring, and my mind does tend to entertain itself. I’ll probably just run laps around the park next weekend.   Cheers   Mick Knight http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/mick-knighs-preparation-for-the-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/mick-knighs-preparation-for-the-marathon/ Fri, 10 May 2013 12:39:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/15-days-to-go-the-art-of-tapering/ If you have been reading running blogs or following a training plan, you will probably have heard people talk about ‘tapering’, but many first time marathon runners are not sure what tapering is and how to approach it for themselves.     Tapering is all about giving your body the best possible chance to rid itself of its ‘training tiredness’ and instead be at ‘maximum energy’ in time for race day. This doesn’t mean that you stop running completely, but you DO want to give yourself a chance to rest and recuperate so that your muscles and energy levels are on top form on Marathon Day.   How much tapering should you be doing? Like everything, there is no ‘one size fits all’. As a general rule, I tend to start with the following:    - 2 weeks before Marathon Day: Take your long runs down to 75% your max week distance and all of your other sessions down to 75% time. Your intensity level in the sessions should stay about the same. - 1 week before Marathon Day: Take your long runs down to 25% your max week distance and all of your other sessions down to 25% time. Your intensity level again should stay the same as you have been working out at – you are aiming for short, sharp training sessions. As said above, there is no one size fits all. So, with my clients, if I know that they work long hours in highly stressful jobs or have a hectic home life constantly running around after the kids and they usually turn up to my training sessions saying that they ‘feel tired’ then I will design them a big taper (see Person 2 example below). If I know that my client recovers quickly, has a less hectic home life and sleeps well most nights then I will design them a slightly less restrictive taper as they will probably be less ‘generally tired’ (see Person 1 example below). Last full training week for both people: 20-22 mile run 6 mile run – speed work or hills 1 hour cross training session 1 hour yoga/ stretching class Gym/ home circuits session   Taper fortnight for Person 1:  Mild taper Week T-2 – race fortnight away 15 mile run 6 mile run – speed work or hills 45 hour cross training session 45 hour yoga/ stretching class Gym/ home circuits session At least 2 early nights to bed! Week T-1 – race week 5 mile run – speed work or hills 30 min cross training session 30 min yoga/ stretching class Gym/ home circuits session At least 3 early nights to bed!   Taper fortnight for Person 2:  More taper Week T-2 – race fortnight away 9 mile run 4 mile run – speed work or hills 1 hour cross training session 1 hour yoga/ stretching class Gym/ home circuits session At least 2 early nights to bed! Week T-1 – race week 3 mile run – speed work or hills 30 min cross training session 30 min yoga/ stretching class At least 3 early nights to bed!   This fortnight is also a great time to treat yourself to a sports massage to get rid of any aches and pains and to give some well-needed attention to any ‘running niggles’. If you have any questions relating to your last 15 days of training and tapering, please feel free to drop me a line.   Anna McKay http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/15-days-to-go-the-art-of-tapering/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/15-days-to-go-the-art-of-tapering/ Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/our-top-fundraiser-david-hellard/ We thought we’d spend a bit of time having a Q&A with 2013 marathon runner David Hellard    Hi David, you seem like a keen runner! How did that come about? It was about six years ago, after a relationship breakup, when I decided to commit to do something healthy in my extra time. So I joined the City Hash, a club that organizes running sessions every week within London Underground Zones 1 & 2 and the year after I was already doing my first marathon and from then on it became a hobby.   Can you tell us a bit about how you are fundraising for Street Child? I’ve done a few marathons now so in order to fundraise I needed to do something to stand out. To do so, I came up with a list of  six different challenges  related to four different running events. These challenges were really supposed to prepare me for the Sierra Leone Marathon, but I thought they could also be a way to entertain the ones who are following or sponsoring. The variety of challenges lets me email friends and family regularly by always having something new to say. It’s starting to build momentum. People are becoming more and more excited with many saying they will double their donation if I manage all six. One sponsor has even offered £720 if I do the lot! Two weeks ago I took part on the Brighton Marathon and challenged myself to finish in under 3.15, which I managed to do and then last Sunday, another challenge was met at the London Marathon, when I was able to lead the race at 400 meters. This was the one which received the most attention. Although I always admitted that this would be a very hard, if not an impossible challenge, I knew that those two decisive minutes at the start would be something people would be talking about until the day and that everyone following would be watching. I think many people sponsor for the entertainment and, in the end, this will mean more sponsorship for Street Child of Sierra Leone. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/our-top-fundraiser-david-hellard/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/our-top-fundraiser-david-hellard/ Fri, 03 May 2013 17:02:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/insurance-challenge-weekly-update/ Each week we will be bringing you all the latest news from Sierra Leone as well as announcing new team sign ups, thanking sponsors and revealing those all important fundraising totals.   Hyperion to sponsor the marathon...   We are delighted to announce that Hyperion have donated the insurance cover for the Street Child Marathon and as a result are now a Silver Sponsor. Their support of the event is hugely appreciated.     AIG to send a team...   We are pleased to announce another team sign up for the marathon. AIG will be sending a team of runners to compete in the race and take part in the Insurance Challenge. It’s fantastic to have another firm on board     Fundraising…   With fundraising now under way, some teams are already well over the £1,000 mark. It also sounds like there are some exciting plans in the pipeline: Kiln has a sponsored pub quiz and auction planned; Novae are organising a table tennis tournament; and Hyperion are planning a cake sale. But, with four weeks to go, this is the time to be reaching out to clients, contacts and service providers and remind them about the incredible challenge that you are all about to undertake – they will be impressed!   If you would like any advice on how to maximise your fundraising efforts, please contact  georgie@street-child.co.uk .   ‘Fundraiser of the Week - Admiral’    Team Admiral, made up from their Cardiff and Swansea offices have been coming up with some very creative fundraising ideas. The departments have been putting on cake sales, auctioning off signed sportswear, organising raffles and setting up sweet shops. Some runners have even auctioned themselves off to work on Saturdays, while senior members of staff have been working in the call centres for the day! It’s fantastic to see the whole company getting so involved and making a real effort to fundraise.     With special thanks to…  BLP Global for supporting the Insurance Challenge with their very generous donation. Their support of the marathon and Street Child’s work is greatly appreciated. The next event…  Please join us for the final marathon event on Thursday 16 th  May at Grace Bar, Piccadilly, 6.00pm. It will be a great opportunity to come and meet all the runners and other insurance teams.  The Street Child team we will be there to answer any last minute questions and offer fundraising advice. We will also be distributing your ‘before you go packs’, full of information about your trip. It includes details about the projects, itineraries, packing lists and travel advice. It should be a great evening and we would love to see as many runners there as possible. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/insurance-challenge-weekly-update/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/insurance-challenge-weekly-update/ Mon, 29 April 2013 12:38:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sierra-leone-marathon-freetown-promo-party/ What better way to promote the 2013 Sierra Leone marathon than hosting a party on top of a sponsors building (Thank you Flash Vehicles Rentals!) overlooking the beautiful city of Freetown.   The night was a huge success, a fantastic turnout with everyone enjoying themselves, a few more sign ups for the big day, some astounding dance moves on display and we raised over $1,501 for the Street Child charity. Thank you to the amazing Lillie Balanta kids from the Balanta Performing Arts Academy in Freetown for entertaiing with flare and style along with the insanely talented PeWiBo.          The guest list featured the who is who of Sierra Leone, ranging from Government Ministers, members of the Hash running group, Street Child staff, plus the winners of last years marathon and half marathon Idrissa Kargbo and Kris Taylor.   Idrissa and Kris are currently training hard for this year’s race and will look to battle it out for the full marathon crown come the 26 th May, so it was good they could make an appearance and lay down the challenge to any other worthy competitors.   A huge thank you must go to Flash, the vehicle rental company for providing us with the incredible venue. To Africell the mobile phone network for the sound system and DJ with some of the best tunes in SaLone. And to the Protec, security and logistics team who made sure the evening was safe, well planned and ran smoothly.        Personal thanks go out to Paul Holden who donated the fantastic prizes for the auction including a Gamesmaker shirt from the London 2012 Olympics, (sold at $300), along with the tennis ball that Andy Murray actually used to win his Olympic Gold Medal (sold at $350)!                  The biggest prize up for grabs was really special; the opportunity to be wined and dined at the new Freetown restaurant Tessa’s (on Wilkinson Road) by the infamous Marathon Team: Emma Taylor, Mark Maughan and Tracey Bravo.     This unbelievable treat started a bidding war between two enthusiastic runners, Emad Khoury of Imrez Pharmacy and international businessman and Hollywood legend Assad, known as Danny DeVito for his uncanny resemblance. The pair finally agreed to submit a joint bid, which totalled a whopping price of $701.           The team really are worth every dollar!   Also thank you to our amazing volunteers, who were the life and soul of the party, we could not have done it without you and appreciate your help in the build up to the biggest event of the year in Sierra Leone.   On On to the Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k.   Don’t miss out, sign up now:   www.sierraleonemarathon.com/register http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sierra-leone-marathon-freetown-promo-party/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sierra-leone-marathon-freetown-promo-party/ Fri, 12 April 2013 17:12:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/spanish-fiesta-day/ Check out the Spanish Fiesta the runner Fernando Pineiro is organizing to raise funds to the Sierra Leone marathon http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/spanish-fiesta-day/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/spanish-fiesta-day/ Mon, 08 April 2013 14:14:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/report-on-rock-the-boat-party/ Check out what Martha Wright wrote on the Rock the Boat Party for Charity, which took place on the 28th of March:   Thank you!   Posted on  March 29, 2013    Thank you so much to everyone who made last night happen:  bands ,  DJs , our amazing sound engineer Rob Taylor,  It’s All Happening , volunteers and guests! Thanks also to  FX Group  for kindly donating a back line for the evening, and to  Tamesis Dock  for their beautiful venue and kind donations to the cause! We raised £1,201 for Street Child of Sierra Leone! Woohoo!  Click here  for the donations page. Thank you also to photographers Pete Ellis ( click here  for album) and Glenn Harper ( click here  for photos and review).         The next fundraising event I’m involved with is the  Sierra Leone Marathon  on  Sunday 26th May ! So if you fancy coming out and taking part, or volunteering, contact me on martha@street-child.co.uk  or visit the website  www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com For further information about this fantastic cause, visit  www.street-child.co.uk If you want to follow the bands and DJs,  click here  for links to their social media pages.   https://rocktheboatforcharity.wordpress.com/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/report-on-rock-the-boat-party/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/report-on-rock-the-boat-party/ Mon, 08 April 2013 13:02:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/65-days-to-go!/ The marathon team are writing this blog whilst in a poda poda! Intrepid travellers that we are!                                     Thank you to everybody who has signed up this week – and welcome to the Street Child Sierra Leone Marathon! We hope your training is going well.  You can set up your online giving page and start fundraising straight away by following this link for My Donate, this  link  for Virgin Money Giving, or this link for Just Giving . For any fundraising tips and questions, please contact  emma@street-child.co.uk So we have officially launched the marathon in Makeni! Last weekend we hosted an epic launch party at the Clubhouse on Saturday. The amazing PeWiBo (Performers Without Borders) came from Freetown to perform and display their excellent circus skills, there was a DJ, cocktails and a braai (not a BBQ!) expertly cooked by our South African buddies at AML. The turn out was great with people from Freetown and Makeni's surrounding areas and everyone knows now that the marathon has definitely arrived!          On the Saturday we hosted a football tournament at Wusum Field with a team coming all the way from Papel mining camp to play on their day off. There were many dramas on the pitch and the victorious winners were the Craig Bellamy Foundation who narrowly beat the Street Child team by 2 goals. After a quick dip in the paddling pool, we all headed to the Clubhouse for a BBQ and the rugby game. Good times :)            We had the first rains of the year the past couple of days and by golly, when it rains, it POURS! The good thing is that it really cools everything so running the next day is so much more manageable. We've made a deal with the weather man that ensures no rain on race day, just maybe a little the day before like last year... maybe. With only 65 days to go now, the marathon team are being kept busy arranging for everyone's arrival. We drove the marathon course last week and got very excited – the course is EPIC! All the villages remembered Mark from his stay last year and were really excited that we are running again in May. The anticipation here is electric and we can't wait. We hope your training and fundraising is going well. We'll be starting the fundraising leader board soon so please do everything you can to get on it and the ultimate winners will have a pretty amazing prize. That's all from the in-country team for now, more updates to follow :)   Over and out! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/65-days-to-go!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/65-days-to-go!/ Thu, 21 March 2013 12:46:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/back-in-makeni/ Let me just say it is fantastic to be back in Sierra Leone!   The SLMarathon Team arrived in Makeni and word is spreading fast so everyone cannot wait for Sunday 26 th May.   I feel like a bit of a celebrity coming back here, most people recognise me from last year and instead of shouting “Aporto” (white man) they now call out “Maraton Mark” and usually start running in front of me, which is great.   It was also brilliant to surprise so many friends and receive warm welcomes from the likes of Allusine and Fatmata who looked after us all last year, Benjamin Kamara the legend of SLM and all of the Clubhouse/Street Child Staff.   The change in Makeni since I left eight months ago is incredible, proving that with the right investment Sierra Leone can develop quickly.   A few new roads, national power/electricity to a lot more buildings, improved traffic conditions, more products to choose from and even a better standard of service and professionalism in the bars/restaurants.   So I suggest you come out and enjoy the adventure to see for yourself why everyone who visits falls in love in Sweet SaLone.   I was out running along the beach over the weekend followed by a nice swim and have been testing out parts of the marathon course over the last few days and still get such a thrill from it.   Also if you want to find out more about our updates in country come along to Prism Bar, London on 7 th March and sign up. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/back-in-makeni/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/back-in-makeni/ Tue, 05 March 2013 12:00:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/birmingham-city-fc-defender-curtis-davies-shows-his-support-for-the-slm-and-street-child/ Professional footballer Curtis Davies and his club Birmingham City FC are backing the Sierra Leone Marathon and the work of the charity Street Child.   Davies' father was born in Sierra Leone and the former England Under 21 defender is encouraging everyone to to take up the opportunity to visit Sierra Leone and take part in an event that will hugely benefit the charity and thousands of street children.   Read the full article here   Sign Up Now http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/birmingham-city-fc-defender-curtis-davies-shows-his-support-for-the-slm-and-street-child/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/birmingham-city-fc-defender-curtis-davies-shows-his-support-for-the-slm-and-street-child/ Fri, 22 February 2013 11:17:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/introducing-emma-taylor/ Kushe everyone, let me introduce myself. My name is Emma Taylor and I am currently out in Makeni working on the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon Exciting stuff! I arrived here a few weeks back and already love the place and the people. I used to work for Sue Ryder and have been involved in some fantastic events over the years. I can't wait for my colleagues Mark and Tracey to arrive so that then it is all systems go and I will have the chance to explore SaLone more. Under 100 days to go – the countdown has begun! The communities are already talking about the marathon and getting excited over here. Training has begun and people already say thank you when you jog past them as they know you are getting ready for the marathon. The atmosphere is building and will soon become electric as more and more people descend. With the official press launch in Sierra Leone next week and the launch parties being set up at The Clubhouse, marathon mania will soon be everywhere. It's so great to see the communities really supporting the marathon and saying they have been running to prepare for this year's event. Another great thing about the event is that although it is primarily to raise funds and awareness for Street Child, the whole community of Makeni and the surrounding villages will benefit from it. The heat is also building here... running is a challenge but you get such a buzz of a adrenaline from having accomplished it that the crazy amount of sweat is totally worth it. The marathon is going to be fantastic! Hope your fundraising is going well, a good tip is to ask your employer if they participate in 'Matched Giving' where they will match your fundraising up to a certain amount and it will instantly double your total. You could plaster their logo on your running vest and write an article to publicise their support. Any fundraising questions, just email emma@street-child.co.uk Happy Training  Emma http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/introducing-emma-taylor/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/introducing-emma-taylor/ Mon, 18 February 2013 16:28:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/comedians-adam-hills-and-greg-burns-back-the-slm/ Find out what Adam Hills and Greg Burns have to say about the Sierra Leone Marathon set to take place on Sunday 26th May 2013.   Australian Comedian and star of the TV show 'The Last Leg' Adam Hills backs the work of Street Child and the Sierra Leone Marathon.   Watch his video here   Comedian and Capital FM DJ Greg Burns explains why YOU should visit Sierra Leone to run the Marathon, Half Marathon or 5k for Street Child.   Watch his video here http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/comedians-adam-hills-and-greg-burns-back-the-slm/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/comedians-adam-hills-and-greg-burns-back-the-slm/ Sun, 17 February 2013 18:38:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/100-days-to-go!/ 100 Days to Go!   The real reason to celebrate February 14th isn’t Valentines Day...it's because it marks 100 days to go until the Sierra Leone Marathon!   Today of all days, love is in the air. But never mind the flowers and chocolates, give your loved one a gift that they will never forget, sign them up for the Sierra Leone Marathon. (Or the Half Marathon or 5k)   Excitement for the SLM is growing both in Sierra Leone and around the world.   We have international runners and corporate teams signed up to take on probably the most worthwhile challenge possible, whilst members of the SLM Team are busy in-country recruiting runners and rousing the nation.   Along with running in one of these magnificent races, you will also have the unique opportunity to visit the Street Child charity projects and see where exactly your money from fund raising goes. Plus the chance to explore such a beautiful and welcoming country, with beaches worthy of a romantic break.   Look into what packages we have available and decide for yourself to take on this adventure and help thousands of children while you are doing it.   Race Info   After the 26th May 2013, you will have a new love in your life… Sierra Leone. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/100-days-to-go!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/100-days-to-go!/ Wed, 13 February 2013 14:52:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/speaking-the-local-language-krio-and-temne/ The official language of Sierra Leone is English which is taught in all schools, but the lingua franca is krio.   The tribal languages of Sierra Leone are roughly divided across the centre of the country, with the majority of the north speaking Temne, and Mende in the south. Makeni is the regional headquarters for the north of the country, so both Krio and Temne are widely spoken.   As a large number of people in Makeni will speak English you should have no trouble communicating with them, but you can earn major brownie points by trying out a few words and phrases in the local languages.   Here are some useful phrases to get you going. You’ll notice that a lot of krio is ‘pidgin english’, so have a stab at putting your own sentences together. Don’t be offended if people don’t understand, they’re probably just not expecting you to speak krio/temne!   English Krio Temne Meeting & greeting     Hello / good morning! Kushe-oh / morning-oh! Seke / ndiraie How are you? Aw di bodi? To pe mu-a? How is the family? Aw di fambul? To pe angbusho mu-a? I’m fine, how are you? Di bodi fine, aw uself? Min yenki, What’s your name? We yu nem? Nges uhmu-a? Where are you from? Usai yu komot? Reke man wur-a? How old are you?   Molo tur-ren ung ba-a? My name is… Ah nem… Mine yi…/ Ages ami…… I’m from… Ah komot… I wur…… Pleased to meet you Ah gladi foh meet yu I bone mi taka bap mu. This is my friend (James)… Dis na mi padi (James)… Opadi kami kono we (yemsan)       Shopping     How much for this? Ow mos for dis tin iya? Molo-a? Ade-a? I’m just looking Ah jes de luk round I kali ojbo Can you give me a discount? Yu noh go less mi? I gbali gbenke mi? My money is finished Mi kohpoh don-don Ankala mi an pon Thank you Tenki ya Muhmo       Eating out     Can I have the menu please? Ah kin get di menu pliz? Ta tori mi tatap How’s your food? Ow di chop? Tope edi emu-a? The food is tasty Di chop swit Edi Ebothi Can I have the bill? Ah kin get mi bill? Tori amolo I’m full, thanks Ah dohn behlful, tenki yaa I po nambara, momo       Post-marathon     I’m very tired Ah taya bad bad Obaki othasar My legs hurt! Ah get pain na mi Emal emi Eban I ache all over Mi bodi de at ol ova Ander ami be aban Can I have some water please? Duya, ah kin get wata? Ta son mi bam ant omari Goodbye   Owa-o See you later We go see bak So nankane so I like (your town)… Ah lek (yu tohng)… I bother kapet kamu http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/speaking-the-local-language-krio-and-temne/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/speaking-the-local-language-krio-and-temne/ Mon, 11 February 2013 16:08:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/fundraising-ideas/ Street Child Fundraising Ideas A few ideas to help you along with fund raising for Street Child, if you need help with any of the activities please get in touch at: info@sierraleonemarathon.com   A Apple Bobbing, As Good as New, Auction of Goods, Auction of Services/Slave for a day (from massage and cleaning to hair cuts), Auction of Promises, Alcohol (pub crawls/ beer festivals/donation from every pint), Adults Only Nights, Assault Course   B Bad Tie Day, Bake Off, Bad Hair Day, Board Games, Baked Bean Bath, Boat Race, Balloon Race, Bowling Night, Book Sale, BBQ, Barn Dance, Battle of the Bands, Burns Night, Bus Pull, Beat the Goalie, Bed/Bath Push, Bike Ride, Beer Barrel Roll, Beard Shaving, Boiled Egg Throwing, Biggest Anything, Badminton, Bond Night, Bazaars, Brass Bands, Business Lunches, Boys night   C Car Wash, Cake Sales, Calendars, Carnival, Car Boot Sale, Concert, Car Treasure Hunt, Casino Evening, Copper Collection, Chariot Race, Cricket Match, Classic Car Show, Christmas Draw, Coconut Shy, Collecting Tins at Train Station or at reception etc, Cocktail Party, Circus, Crazy Cooking, Celebrations, Cowboys & Indians, Comedian   D Darts, Dinner, Demonstrations, Disco, Dog Race, Daft Games, Distance Running, Dressing Up/Down Days, Dribbling, Dress as a footballer for the day   E Easter Egg Hunt or Raffle, Eating Marathon, Expeditions, Eyebrows (shaved off!), Escape from (Jail/Police station), Extravaganza, Exhibitions, Entrance Fee F Fasting, Fancy Dress, Fencing, Film Nights or Previews, Freebies, Face Painting, Fire Walking, Fairground Rides, Fairs, Fireworks, Football Tournament, Foreign Coins, Fantasy football G Garage Sale, Garden Party, Garden Show, Garden Open Days, Guess the Name/Weight/ Number, Gala, Golf Day, Ghost Walks, Games Lunch, Game Show Night, Go Kart Grand Prix, Gunge Tank, Guess the Object blindfolded   H Halloween Party, Hoopla, Hook-a-Duck, Horse Rides, Hot Air Balloon, Haggis Hurling, Harvest Supper, Hypnotist, Headers   IIce Creams, Indians, It’s a Knockout, Inflatables, Indoor Games Night J Jokes, Jams, Jumble Sale, Juggling with footballs K Kissing, Karaoke, Kids vs Adults Activity, Key Rings, Keep ups L Line Dancing, Live Music, Look-a-Like Contest, Left Handed Day, Loose Change Collection, Language lessons   M Murder Mystery Nights, Mascot, Market Stalls, Music Event, Medieval, Mile of Pennies, Mini Olympics, Mufti Day, Movie Night   N Nature Walk, Nightclub Promotion, No Phones/Smoking/Chocolate/Tea day, Night Under the Stars, Netball Tournament   O Opera Night, Outward Bound P Pumpkin of Pounds, Plate Smashing, Puppet Shows, Pool, Penny Jar, Pub Crawl, Piano Playing, Piggy Back Rides, Pantomime, Party, Paint Balling, Pancake Race, Pet Shows, Playstation Play Off, Pub Games, Play Adaptation, Pants day, Penalty shoot outs, Pub quizzes Q Quiz Night (various themes)   R Rowing, Rides, Radio, Relaxing Breaks, Raffle, Roller Skating, Race Nights, Rugby Match, Raft Race, Ramble, Refreshments, Recycling (phones, cartridges, clothes)   S Sponsored Silence, Skateboarding, Skittles, Street or Supermarket Collection, Superhero, Swimming, Snooker, Swear Box, Sixties Evening, Street Party, Silence, Sports Day, Shows, Sales, Scavenger Hunt, Shoe Shine, Supper, Sponge Throwing, Stationary Cycle, Swap Shop, Sponsored Anything, Stop smoking incentive, Skills lessons, Sweep Stake, Search for a Mascot (could your voted-in colleague cheer the team on?), Sweep Stake, Sports lessons   T Trolley Dash, Trolley Tokens, Theatre, Truck Pull, Tug of War, Table Tennis, Tournaments, Talent Competition, Tenpin Bowling, Tombola, Toy Sale, Table Top Sale, Throwing Competition   U Underwear Party, Unwanted Presents, Uniform Day (or Non Uniform Day)   V Variety Show, Visits W Wild West, World Cup, Wildlife, Winter, Walks, Woodland Scheme, Wellie Wanging, Water Sports, Wastepaper, Waxing, Windscreen Wash, Wine & Cheese, Wine Tasting, Washing Day (cars, windows etc), Wear football tops to work, Wellie filling (fill a wellie with coins)   X Xmas Hamper, Xmas Fair, X Marks the Spot Treasure Hunt, Xtreme Sports   Y Yacht Racing, Yard of Ale, YoYo competition   Z Zodiac Evening       Did you know? You can do a sponsored anything. Entry costs or cover charges are an easy way to fundraise from any idea. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/fundraising-ideas/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/fundraising-ideas/ Mon, 04 February 2013 15:10:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/why-you-should-run-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Find out why Phil Jupitus, Ed Byrne, Shappi Khorsandi and Robin Ince think YOU should run the Sierra Leone Marathon.   #SLM13   Watch the Video here http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/why-you-should-run-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/why-you-should-run-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Fri, 01 February 2013 16:36:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sl-marathon-meet-up/ Thank you to everyone who attended the Sierra Leone Marathon Meet Up on Tuesday night. We hope you enjoyed the evening and feel as excited as the SLM team are about the race in Makeni on the 26 th May.   For those thinking about registering, this is a  great opportunity to take part in an incredible race, have a fabulous holiday (with the chance to visit stunning countryside and pristine beaches), and do something incredibly worthwhile. Flights to Freetown are at their cheapest rates for a long time so get in quick before the planes start to fill up.   For those registered, why not double your fundraising impact and bring a friend! Also, if you would like to hear more about our corporate challenge then please let us know – we have 6 companies signed up and sending teams so far.   Keep an eye on the website and Facebook for future events and if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at: info@sierraleonemarathon.com   Also well done to Tracey Bravo who raised around £400 at her London quiz night, proof that fun events like a quiz can go a long way to helping you reach your fundraising target.   For those of who missed it, below is a link to the Sierra Leone Marathon feature in Runner's World Magazine, enjoy:   http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/event-editorial/video-rw-runs-the-sierra-leone-marathon/9151.html   Regards   Sierra Leone Marathon Team http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sl-marathon-meet-up/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sl-marathon-meet-up/ Thu, 31 January 2013 18:06:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sunderland-afc-back-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Sunderland AFC is giving its backing to the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon, an event in aid of the charity Street Child.   The club is encouraging fans from around the region to sign up and take part in the event, which has a number of Sunderland connections. The first-ever Sierra Leone Marathon took place in June last year and was partly organised by SAFC fan Mark Maughan from Consett, County Durham. He spent several months in the northern city of Makeni to help make the race a huge success and raise close to £400,000 to help street kids and out of school children in Sierra Leone.   On his first visit to West Africa, Mark played for a local football team called Nosdo FC, where he kitted them out with donated Sunderland shirts in agreement that some of their players would compete either in the marathon, half marathon or 5k.   The team were delighted to have taken part in the country’s first ever-official marathon. Each of the six runners completed the race proudly sporting their SAFC shirts. Mark is now helping to organise this year’s Sierra Leone Marathon and is hoping that other Sunderland football fans will come to Sierra Leone on Sunday 26  May for the race of their life.   “The Sierra Leone Marathon is a real adventure,” said Mark Maughan. “Having the chance to compete in a sporting challenge like this for a genuinely worthwhile cause is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “   Sunderland AFC official website http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sunderland-afc-back-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/sunderland-afc-back-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Wed, 23 January 2013 15:46:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/runners-world-slm-article/ Run the Sierra Leone Marathon by Ruth Emmet   'Small, small,’ says the woman dressed in vibrant twists of wax-printed cotton, as she leaves her house to run beside me. That means ‘slow’ in the Sierra Leonean Krio language – and she’s really not wrong there. On a red dirt track dotted with discarded mango stones, we’re inching uphill together. The humidity is stifling, the thermometer’s pushing 33C and we’re running through what feels like power-shower sunshine: oppressive, relentless, driving. Then out of the heat haze, a man wearing a fur-trimmed Puffa jacket roars past on a motorbike and on into the bush. Welcome to the surreal scenes of Sierra Leone’s first ever marathon.   Racing for charity is not new, of course, and thanks to the rise of the destination race holiday, neither is the idea that a long-haul flight can form part of your race prep. But the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is something different, organised entirely by workers (most of them volunteers) from the charity Street Child of Sierra Leone (SCoSL). It’s one of a new breed of races that combine charity and travel, so competitors venture out, shake hands with the recipients of the money they’ve raised and see funded projects in action. There’s no minimum cash requirement, although most runners do aim to raise around £1,000. You can then stay for up to seven nights, with a packed schedule of visits to schools and Street Child projects leading up to race day itself. For even the most jaded runner, it’s an excellent reminder that there can be more to the sport than dropping those last few pounds or chasing a new PB. First things first: it’s time to leave behind any memories of drug-fuelled rebels toting Kalashnikovs on the evening news. Since the civil war ended in 2002, Sierra Leone (known locally as Salone) has marked itself out as a surprisingly safe and open-hearted country.   Yet the scars of war remain: 70 per cent of the population still live below the poverty line, and 3,000 children sleep out every night on the unpaved streets of the country’s major cities, amid open sewers, stray dogs and malaria-carrying bugs. In Sierra Leone, the infrastructure – roads, hotels, hospitals – often ranges from makeshift to non-existent.This may be why plenty of locals first thought that the idea of a race in their back yard was completely bonkers. Waiting for the ferry from Lungi airport to the capital, Freetown, I chat to Maxwell Duru, a web developer in his late 20s. Hearing of the race, he suddenly makes a fantastic noise: a shrill, good-natured, incredulous, ‘Eeeeeeeeeh!’ Salonean verbal shorthand for ‘Are you kidding me?’ I’ll hear it quite a few times over my seven-day stay. Usually after explaining that 386 of us (including 236 locals) are gathering not to mine for minerals or work with a non-government organisation, but to pin numbers to our chests and run.     Moving on   You can see Maxwell’s point. Sierra Leone’s lush green countryside hasn’t been officially mapped since 1964, meaning race director Ben Hodgson had a hell of a job plotting out the route. Hitching a ride on the back of a motorbike exactly one year before the race, he describes ‘driving in circles for three days solid with a GPS unit, looking for runnable tracks and trails’. With the help of local residents, he came up with a lasso-shaped course from the hard-packed mud streets of Makeni – Sierra Leone’s third biggest city – right out to some of the tiny villages that dot the wilderness of the Bombali District. Even by the standards of a country that squeezes rainforest, mountains and mangrove swamps into a land the size of Wales, Makeni offers a spectacular mix of scenery and terrain.Far more poignant, though, is Makeni’s history: it was attacked in 1998 during the campaign chillingly named ‘Operation No Living Thing’, and served as the hub for the rebel Revolutionary United Front during the later years of the civil war. Reports from Human Rights Watch document the rebels’ unimaginably cruel tactics: amputations by machete, eye gougings, burns, injections with acid, rape, beatings. Young boys were coerced into working as child soldiers, while girls were often forced into sexual slavery, with reports that some had their achilles tendon sliced to prevent them from running away.   Robert Conteh was a young teen when the war ended. He remembers it as a restless, disorientating time: ‘We were always moving round – we were displaced every two, every three months. All the time we were expecting war; we were expecting to have to run.’ Now Robert is assistant development officer at the SCoSL project in Lunsar – a steady job helping other people to regain a stable life. Within 18 months, the centre – set up in partnership with HANCI, another charity – had taken 200 young Saloneans from the streets, reunited them with their families and enrolled them at school. ‘These are the two key areas for us – getting children back into homes, and back into education,’ says SCoSL founder Tom Dannatt. As a student Tom backpacked around west Africa, back when Sierra Leone topped the global poverty rankings and was, in Tom’s words, ‘officially the worst place in the world to live’. As most of us would be, Tom was humbled by the desperate poverty he saw. But unlike most of us, he did something about it, setting up SCoSL in 2008 in his spare time around his ‘official career – the career [he] felt [he] should have’, as director of a City of London recruitment firm. The charity blossomed, the team grew and the fundraising ideas became ever more ambitious. Which is how Tom’s tiny band of volunteers – with no real running experience behind them – found themselves organising a marathon in one the most challenging countries in the world. The local security forces, police and army all lent support, helping the race organisers clear basic hurdles – like the fact that Sierra Leone has no tradition of long-distance running at all, or that there’s a hectic stream of okada motorbike taxis haring through Makeni 24 hours a day.   There was also the tricky question of that tropical climate. Set for June 9, the race fell on the cusp of Sierra Leone’s rainy season, a six-month-long solid block of torrential downpours. On the eve of the race, a massive electrical storm looked like it might herald disaster – but the organisers pressed on, racing out to pick up the finish-line banners after they were buffeted to the ground by the gale. Thankfully, the rain held off for the race itself, although with humidity running north of 90 per cent, we all still ended up pretty soaked. That’s where the 62 first-aiders manning five medical stations – and six paddling pools filled with cool water – really came into their own. There were a handful of cases of heatstroke but no serious injuries and no one collapsed en route, an incredible achievement for such a hot day and such a hard course. Over patchy tarmac, dirt trails, and rock-strewn mud roads lined with open sewers, all 386 runners made it home safely.     Local heroes   Among those 386 were 30 former street children who ran the 5K race. Then there was Sally Koroma, who crossed the finish line of the full 26.2-miler in 4:20, becoming the first-ever Salonean woman to run a marathon on home turf. She did this, by the way, before she’d eaten any breakfast. The star of the show, though, was Idrissa Kargbo. Idrissa’s passport has him as 22, but he isn’t completely sure about that, guessing his age at the end of the war as between 10 and 14. During the conflict, his family fled from Freetown to his father’s village in Port Loko. ‘It was devastated by rebels while we were there,’ he says. ‘They bulldozed our house and killed my cousin. They tried to cut my father’s hands off, but God saved him from that. It was night, and I was running around looking for my father and mother, but I couldn’t [find them]. ‘I lived for two years on the streets with my friends. I was never involved in any fighting – I was always running away. I didn’t want to kill anyone. Every time the rebels tried to capture me, I slid away.’ Idrissa won the marathon in a startlingly fast 2:38:27. The former street child had turned into a national champ. ‘By God’s grace I will be there next year to defend my title,’ he says. ‘It means everything. It was my first international run. It’s so good that the British people came and want to help the street children here. We want to welcome them to Salone.’   He’s spot-on about that warm welcome. Friendly shouts of ‘Aporto! Aporto!’ rang out every time the Salonean children spotted a white face (the word derives from the 15th century Portuguese settlers). Everywhere we walked in Makeni, big groups of youngsters scrambled up to chat, wanting to hold hands, or high-five, or ask us to take their photo a few hundred times. That palpable excitement kept me going during the race, especially the moment when I turned around to realise that I had a small entourage of kids in school uniform jogging along politely behind me. Not that the children have a monopoly on warmth here. One of the most striking things about Salone is how readily everyone will reach out to greet a stranger. Sometimes in totally surprising ways. During the race, a runner named Muktai told me he belonged to the Freetown branch of the Hash House Harriers. ‘The drinking club?’ I asked. ‘With the running problem?’ He grinned and said ‘Yes! ON, ON!’ It was the most encouraging thing I’ve ever had shouted at me on the run. The slower finishers got to experience much more of this than the front-of-packers – after watching the fast runners whizz by, children and women spontaneously jogged with me twice more along the route.   The inevitable trade-off: us slowcoaches also caught more of that sun. The race started at 6:15am, so the day’s temperatures were just peaking by the time I reached the Lunsar-Makeni Highway in the final few miles. A rare stretch of flat, paved road, this was actually a far bigger challenge than the rolling uphills of Masimera’s dirt tracks, where runners were enveloped by the shade of mango trees, and race organisers regularly rolled up on motorbikes to throw you plastic pouches of water. Here, the sun’s rays bounced right back off the tarmac, while traffic zoomed past so thickly it wasn’t safe for the water carriers to stop. Gratifyingly, even race-winner Idrissa was spotted run-walking a little here. Using a run-limp-walk-shuffle system of my own, I reached the finish line and accepted my wooden race medal. I’d added a full hour to my marathon best time, but making it to the end of this crazy, difficult, inspiring race still felt like a PB of sorts.   That evening, it was all back to SCoSL’s Clubhouse, a bar/restaurant whose profits all go back to the charity. We ploughed through plates of peppery fish, chicken and rice, and drank the local Star beer, famed for the fact that no two batches ever taste quite the same. The trip hadn’t been totally smooth-running: one racer’s luggage went missing, while a vehicle breakdown had stranded a few of us for a couple of hours among the grass-roofed huts of a remote village on our way to Makeni. (The van was missing its fuel cap, so with typical resourcefulness, the driver had wedged a jerry can full of petrol under his seat to syphon it off directly into the engine below. In Salone, you soon learn to take this kind of thing in your stride – although we did stand back a bit when the driver started gazing into the van’s steamy mechanical innards, lit cigarette in hand.) Minor hiccups aside, though, I didn’t hear anyone regret their decision to do this race. What I did hear was a lot of professions of gratitude and unity. ‘Everyone here’s been through the same tough experience, it’s a bond between us all now,’ said my fellow marathoner Josh Ord-Hume, 41. The same sentiment goes for the Saloneans themselves. Idrissa, who belongs to the Temne ethnic group, says, ‘I was also running with So-Sos, Limbas, Mendes, but I didn’t think about that. In Sierra Leone we are all one.’     Making a difference   When you sign up for the Sierra Leone marathon, your bed, breakfast and travel come included in the admittedly hefty price (see Kaboh Na Salone, next page). Yet I’d urge you to stay longer and take advantage of the optional extras if you can. You could leave SCoSL behind and take a trip to Tribe Wanted, an eco-community living self-sufficiently on a gorgeous stretch of coastland on the Western Area Peninsula. (Think of the Bounty chocolate bar ads – they were filmed on a Salonean beach.)Alternatively, you could see more of the charity’s work beyond what’s included with the package. We’d all already visited a school in Bumbuna, where we were mobbed by happy, thriving children and served massive portions of cassava-leaf stew. We’d also all had a chance to see several Street Child Centres, including one in Makeni where 120 children a year are given food, clothing and shelter. The smiling boys, as young as five or six, leapt on the chance to play football. The young women, saved from the commercial sex trade, were more obviously traumatised, many staring silently ahead while their young children toddled around. It’s a hint of what Tom meant back at the marathon launch, when he said, ‘The boys’ cases are sad; the girls’ stories could tear your heart open.’   So what can the charity do to help stop children ending up on the street in the first place? To find out a little about it, I joined a trek out to Tambahka, a chiefdom near the Guinea border. This is where SCoSL launched Every Child in School, a programme to help fund teacher training and set up – or improve – village schools. The journey was an adventure in itself, our marathon-weary bodies bouncing around as the charity’s 4x4 drove for hours over the potholed roads. (This bit took longer than it should have done because we stopped to let a chameleon cross the road.) There was a crossing over the Little Scarcies River, the car dragged across on a raft while a topless woman washed her clothes on the riverbank opposite and a family floated past in a hollowed-out tree. Then, during a stop in head village Samaya, where we were welcomed with beating drums and balangi xylophones, our guide John Momodu Kargbo asked permission from the chief’s representative to travel through Tambakha. The reply came, ‘May God guide you, protect you and convey you to safety. You are here in good will… I am very, very happy with your project.’ So we continued, following the same route John told us the retreating rebels had taken into Guinea as the civil war started to turn.   At Komoya Community Primary School, headmaster Lansana PS Kamara introduced us to an elderly man named Pa Kamara [no relation]. He had lost his hands to the rebels’ machetes, but now Pa was chairman of the school management committee, a living reminder of how drastically things are changing for the better in Sierra Leone. In Bendugu, meanwhile, the original school burnt down two years ago, leaving children to take lessons under the patchy shelter of a mango tree. Now, we saw how the temporary structures erected by SCoSL were giving way to permanent buildings, built using bricks of gravel and sand created by the villagers. Think you could raise that £1,000? Then you could cover the cost of a temporary structure and help get this process under way. Together, the 386 runners raised £400,000 for Street Child – 90 per cent of which will go directly to the projects on the ground. Still, there’s more to be done. Six months after the race, SCoSL presented parliament with the first official headcount of Salone’s uncared-for children. They found 50,000 still ‘living lives controlled by the street.’ Perhaps that’s the real reason why running a marathon in a developing country can seem completely daunting. Apart from the training, the financial commitment and the tough terrain, there’s the overwhelming scale of the poverty you’ll be raising funds to help fight. Races such as the Sierra Leone Marathon are an enormous challenge, on every possible front.   But it’s absolutely worth it. My favourite memory comes from the race’s excruciating final few miles: stumbling back into Makeni’s urban streets, I found locals repeating ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’ Heightened by gratitude towards SCoSL, this is also pretty much how Saloneans react whenever they see somebody exercising on the street. In a country where people’s life expectancy hovers under 50, citizens see any effort to keep yourself healthy as a positive contribution to society. They were actually thanking us just for the simple act of running. The 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon takes place on May 26. Register Now http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/runners-world-slm-article/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2013/runners-world-slm-article/ Mon, 21 January 2013 13:48:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/christmas-greetings/ The Sierra Leone Marathon team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and all the very best for the New Year.   Eat plenty, enjoy a drink or two with friends and loved ones but most importantly do not forget your winter training as the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon , Half Marathon and 5k is just around the corner.   We hope to see many of you on the start line in Makeni come 26 th May, so that together we can raise even more money for Street Child and help get thousands of children off the streets and back into school. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/christmas-greetings/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/christmas-greetings/ Mon, 24 December 2012 10:14:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/ibrahim-turay-olympic-hero/ Not only is the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon a really exciting challenge and a fantastic way of helping thousands of children, it is an opportunity to compete against one of the best, in the form of Sierra Leone’s Olympic 200m sprinter Ibrahim Turay.   19-year-old Turay, born in the town of Waterloo is thrilled about lining up alongside hundreds of other Sierra Leonean and international runners as they set off to complete either the marathon, half marathon or 5k race on Sunday 26th May next year.   Turay thoroughly enjoyed his time in London at the 2012 Olympic Games, noting some of his highlights were clocking a new personal best time of 21.90 seconds in the 200m, competing against French sprinting sensation Christophe Lemaitre and meeting the fastest man in the world Usain Bolt!   He is returning to Sierra Leone within the next few weeks where he will continue his training in preparation for next year’s SLM before hopefully heading out to Moscow for the IAAF World Championships.   With the title of Olympic hero, Ibrahim would like to use his newfound fame and influence in SaLone to encourage youngsters to follow in his footsteps and do well in sport, whilst helping the charity Street Child with their important work and supporting the Sierra Leone Marathon.   So if you fancy your chances of taking on an Olympian, Register here . http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/ibrahim-turay-olympic-hero/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/ibrahim-turay-olympic-hero/ Fri, 14 December 2012 17:28:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/alusines-marathon-message/ The first-ever Sierra Leone Marathon took place on Saturday 9 th June 2012 and was a joyous occasion for so many people, the international runners, the Street Child team and thousands of Sierra Leoneans.   21-year old Alusine Kanu, the ‘Golden Boy’ of Makeni, the northern city of Sierra Leone where the marathon, half marathon and 5k races take place, was delighted to be part of such a historic event and was happy to share his thoughts on such an exciting experience.   “I enjoyed it very much because it was my first time running a marathon. My main highlight was when I received a medal for finishing the race. It was also great to see so many of my friends at the race.” Alusine said.   “I expected to win the race and although I didn’t, I was still very happy to take part. It was very well organised and met all my expectations from an organisational level.   “On the one hand it was an opportunity for me to improve my fitness levels and I enjoyed the challenge. But mainly it was to support the event that my friend Mark, had worked so hard on. I wanted to make him happy along with everyone else associated with The Collective and Street Child.”   Alusine cannot wait to take part in next years race and is encouraging more people from Sierra Leone and around the world to join him on the dusty tracks of Makeni, he added:   “Of course I am running next year, I’ve already started training and I hope to improve on my position from last year.   “I am trying to get as many of my friends to do the marathon and hopefully it will be even more successful than last year with more people.”   Register here for the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/alusines-marathon-message/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/alusines-marathon-message/ Thu, 06 December 2012 18:46:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/george-quaker,-street-worker-qplusa/ Sierra Leonean Street Worker George Quaker recently visited London to help Street Child present a report in the Houses of Parliament.   George has worked with the charity in Kenema for over a year and in that time has already helped around 1,000 street children.   During his visit he was delighted to spend some time with us and share his stories on the Sierra Leone Marathon.   What are your thoughts on the Sierra Leone Marathon?   “The Sierra Leone Marathon introduced something very new and very interesting to Sierra Leoneans. We had heard about it for a long time, but having it for the first time was like a breakthrough in history.   “It was so touching and it attracted thousands of onlookers and people who just wanted to be part of it, for the fist time, even people who do not run just wanted to be part of this great adventure.”   What benefits do you see in Sierra Leone as a result of the Marathon?   “Mainly the marathon was about fund raising and I know that the money made has benefitted so many children, not only within Makeni, but in and around Sierra Leone.   “Children have been supported back to school, families have been empowered to support their children and provided with medical supplies, food and clothing.   “Schools have been built in remote communities where children did not previously have access to education and this is all as a result of the marathon.   “The whole message from the event was to raise funds to help the needy, help the homeless and help the street children. To help create a better future for their lives and I see this happening quite a lot.”   Was this the first marathon you have been involved in?   “The Sierra Leone Marathon was the first one I have ever witnessed or been part of, I did not run but I had a role to play as one of the sport marshals, directing athletes around the course, I really enjoyed it as I contributed to this peaceful and successful event.”   Do you think you will ever run the Sierra Leone Marathon?   “I am contemplating running next year, perhaps not the full marathon but maybe the 5k or half marathon. I must give it a try.”   Why should people take part in the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon?   “Seeing people come from different parts of the world, coming to run in your country, in your town for your brothers and sisters is quite are powerful motivating factors and something that will hopefully encourage more to come out and run in 2013.” http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/george-quaker,-street-worker-qplusa/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/george-quaker,-street-worker-qplusa/ Wed, 28 November 2012 12:39:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/street-child-party/ Tenki Tenki to everyone who came along to the Street Child charity party aboard HMS President last week, I am happy to announce that no one fell overboard and I hope everyone enjoyed a fantastic night.   More great news from the event was that we had lots more sign ups for the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon and many more people showing interest in what is shaping up to be an even bigger and better race than this year.     We really appreciate all of you lovely folk coming along and also credit to the band, the musician, HMS President staff, everyone who helped set up and in particular George, the Sierra Leonean street worker.   Following his presentation at the Houses of Parliament, George Quaker once a street child himself, delivered a powerful speech on how he is working with Street Child to try and help young people in his country and hopefully inspire you to stay involved with the charity.   The party provided us with the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Street Child this year and the chance to catch up with around 170 of our closest supporters on a night that cost the charity a grand total of £58, proving that we can make a small amount go a very long way.   If you have any questions regarding the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon that were not answered on the night then please take a look at our FAQ section on the website or you can email me, Mark, at: info@sierraleonemarathon.com   Thanks again for coming, hope to see many of you again at our comedy night at the Hammersmith Apollo on Monday 19th November. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/street-child-party/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/street-child-party/ Mon, 12 November 2012 11:49:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/slm-exciting-events/ We have two incredible events coming up in November, please read on to find out more about the Street Child party and the Charity Comedy night at the Hammersmith Apollo.   Street Child would like to invite you to our 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon Party on Tuesday 6th November aboard HMS President on the Embankment in London.   Come along to hear all about the exciting plans for next year's marathon, meet the team, watch some exclusive videos and celebrate Street Child's achievements so far. The party falls on the same day that we have been selected to address the All Party Parliamentary Group for Street Children at the Houses of Parliament and announce our ambitious plans to tackle the issue of street children in Sierra Leone.   Please bring along friends and colleagues or anyone who is interested in the charity/marathon to enjoy a fantastic night out.   Further details can be found on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/358751980884246/     Street Child is proud to announce An Evening of Comedy at the Hammersmith Apollo on 19th November. Top comedy from - MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE - SEANN WALSH - SHAPPI KHORSANDI - ED BYRNE - MILTON JONES - PHILL JUPITUS - JEREMY HARDY - ROBIN INCE - JON RICHARDSON - GREG BURNS - ADAM HILLS Music from - KT TUNSTALL + HER BAND - SHLOMO (THE MASTER CRAFSTMAN OF BEATBOX) and a TOP UK HIP-HOP ACT (Name withheld for contractual reasons.) An Evening of Comedy promises to be a blisteringly funny night with performances from some of the UK's finest comedy talent. Award-winning comedian Marcus Brigstocke will host the show, and all proceeds will go to Street Child of Sierra Leone- whose aim is to get children off the streets and into education. The line-up has something for everyone- masterful satire from Brigstocke, sharp observational comedy from Ed Byrne, self-deprecating silliness from Seann Walsh, music from the BRIT award winning KT Tunstall, and much more. We kid you not: with more acts still to be confirmed, this will be a truly memorable evening and will pave the way to a better future for thousands of street children.   TICKETS ON SALE NOW!   http://www.eventim.co.uk/street-child-sierra-leone-Tickets-london.html?affiliate=HAL&doc=artistPages%2Ftickets&fun=artist&action=tickets&key=831197%242351725   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/slm-exciting-events/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/slm-exciting-events/ Mon, 29 October 2012 11:46:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/jemmas-joy-in-slm/ The first ever Sierra Leone Marathon in aid of 'Street Child of Sierra Leone',was a truly memorable day for everyone involved. I was lucky enough to be a part of the event as I was volunteering with The Collective Sierra Leone at the time and was asked by Mark (Event Organiser) to help out. Not wanting to miss this exciting opportunity I gladly agreed. My role on the day was varied as I was helping with a number of tasks at the finish area. However one of the jobs that I enjoyed the most was being able to give the participants their medals and a well deserved drink as they crossed the finish line.   With each participant there was a different story of their journey, a look of complete exhaustion on their faces, but also one of pure happiness as they had just finished one of the most challenging marathons around.   A huge crowd of Sierra Leoneans had gathered awe-inspired by what was going on in their town, music was blaring in the background, most notably the classic "chop my money", and people from all corners of the world were chatting with one another about their experiences. The atmosphere at this point was captivating.    There were a few people in particular that I was happy to see cross the finish line. The first was actually a group of boys that played for a local football team called Nosdo FC, which me and the rest of the volunteers had befriended on our trip. Mark had given them all Sunderland shirts and they wore these proudly on the day. I distinctively remember the boys becoming rather attached to their medals after the race as they didn't take them off for at least another week. It goes to show just how much events like the SLM mean to the local people as I'm sure it did the same for all the other racers to.   The second person worth mentioning is a local girl called Sally. She was the first ever Sierra Leonean woman to compete and win the SLM. Sally lived a few houses away from where we were staying and she would regularly come to wake us up in the mornings to go running with her. I soon found out that she was a pretty good runner and not being the fittest of people, I struggled to keep up with her.   Previous volunteers had actually paid for her to take part in the event and with a new pair of trainers that she was donated she was ready to make a name for herself. She breezed through the finish line in 4 hours 20 and still had energy to dance away to all the music. It was quite a touching moment as her father came to hug her and go on stage to receive the prize money which I can imagine made a huge difference to their family.   Overall my experience with the SLM is something I'm never going to forget and I feel honoured to have been a part of something so special. The nice thing about this marathon is that it's not only providing people with an amazing experience but it's also having a positive effect on the community. Helping to raise money to save the lives of street children and it is bringing people into the country and supporting local businesses which in turn helps them provide for their families. I'd recommend this event to anyone. Whether you want to run or just help out its something so unique that you won't be able to experience it anywhere else but in the spectacular country of Sierra Leone.      http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/jemmas-joy-in-slm/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/jemmas-joy-in-slm/ Wed, 24 October 2012 13:52:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sports-stars-and-celebs-talking-about-slm13/ We have been busy in the London office trying to spread the word about the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon. We want as many people as possible to come along and take part in this wonderful event, which will help save the lives of thousands of children.   Social Media can play a big part in influencing runners to sign up, this is where you can help. Please spread the word to all of your friends, family, colleagues and anyone looking for a worthwhile challenge.   Simply follow, like, retweet, share, comment and interact with what we have to say and follow in the footsteps of some very famous people who are backing our cause:   Sir Ranulph Fiennes Paula Radcliffe Ryan Giggs Amanda Holden Lee Dixon Marcus Brigstocke Lee Dixon Denise Lewis Curtis Davies Michelle Ross Cope David Weir Liz Yelling Ben Fogle Alistair Brownlee Jodie Swallow Lee Merrien Jo Pavey Helen Glover Ben Saunders http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sports-stars-and-celebs-talking-about-slm13/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sports-stars-and-celebs-talking-about-slm13/ Thu, 18 October 2012 13:04:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/pollyanna-hopes-mini-marathon/ "Brave, determined and inspiring."   If you are undecided about taking part in the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon, Half Marathon or 5km race, then read this incredible story, which will hopefully convince you to sign up.   Below is a link to the tale of seven-year-old amputee Pollyanna Hope who completed the 5km race along with her family earlier this year to help raise money for the charities 'Street Child of Sierra Leone' and 'Elizabeth Legacy of Hope'.   Pollyanna lost her leg below the knee after a bus crash when she was just two years old.  Only five years later she took on the challenge of the blistering heat in Sierra Leone to help other children.   "We crossed an open sewer that snaked across the road. I jumped across, momentarily forgetting that this represented a major challenge for Pollyanna. But then I turned to see a small local boy, who had been jogging with us for 10 minutes, lifting her over the trench.   "More than an hour after starting out, Pollyanna crossed the finishing line, to a heroine's welcome. She was last, but she had set her own record by going for five kilometres on her crutches." Explained Pollyanna's father Christopher Hope.   Read the full story here and watch Pollyanna's amazing Mini-Marathon video http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/pollyanna-hopes-mini-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/pollyanna-hopes-mini-marathon/ Mon, 15 October 2012 14:29:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sign-up-now-for-slm13/ Following on from the huge success of the 2012 Sierra Leone Marathon, I am happy to announce we are back, working hard to make the 2013 event even bigger and better.   Earlier this year Sierra Leone held it's first ever marathon, with nearly 200 international runners joining around 150 locals on the streets and around the nearby villages of Makeni.   The whole event was spectacular, not only because of the £300,000 that was raised for the charity Street Child of Sierra Leone, but also the way that so many people were able to share the experience together and explore the amazing country that is Sweet Salone.   One of the key points for many visitors was the fact they were able to explore the Street Child projects and centres to see where there donations make a difference.   Having been fortunate enough to spend 10 weeks in Makeni planning the 2012 event and helping with the logistics Sierra Leone side. My luck has continued as I have now moved to London (tricky decision for a Northerner like me) to work in the Street Child office and help prepare for the 2013 Marathon set to take place on Sunday 26 th May.   The work is all very exciting, we have re-launched our website and can now take registrations for the 2013 Sierra Leone Marathon, so spread the word, tell your friends, family and colleagues and sign up now!   P.S. If you see me running through the streets of London, proudly sporting my Street Child T-shirt, stop me and say Kucho or run along.   Mark Maughan http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sign-up-now-for-slm13/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sign-up-now-for-slm13/ Tue, 02 October 2012 16:38:00 Martin Forsyth http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/general-lord-dannatt-congratulates-winner-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ Sierra Leonean Idrissa Kargbo beats international competition at the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon   11 th June 2012, Sierra Leone : General Lord Dannatt congratulated the winner of Sierra Leone's first ever marathon, 29-year-old Idrissa Kargbo, this weekend at the event's official prize-giving in the northern city of Makeni.   Kargbo, 29, made it a home victory at the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon. He led led a total field of 386 runners from across the world to take first place in the inaugural event with a time of 2hrs 46mins.   "I feel so happy to be the winner of this first marathon in Sierra Leone,"said Kargbo. "The route was not easy so I'm very proud."   "We really need events like this to help our country which was until recently the poorest in the world. So I thank the organisers for bringing an event to Sierra Leone that will benefit an important charity and will help children get off the street."   Kargbo was speaking about the Kiln Sierra Leone's official charity partner, Street Child of Sierra Leone. During his address to conclude the event, General Lord Dannatt also spoke of his close personal association with the charity that will benefit from the anticipated £250,000 that the marathon will raise.   General Lord Dannatt commented: "My son founded Street Child and I am a patron and active supporter. When he told me that he wanted to organise the first marathon in Sierra Leone he also asked me to be Chairman of the Organising Committee.   "In reality, the organisational work has been carried out by Ben Hodgson and Nick Piggott of Street Child but it was my honour to start the race and to say the concluding words at the end of the event. It's an enormous privilege and a pleasure to be involved with both the marathon and with Street Child."   "I think everyone has enjoyed the day tremendously. 200 people have come to Sierra Leone to compete alongside around the same number of Sierra Leoneans and they will all leave understanding more about a beautiful country but one that has its challenges.   "Street Child is helping to give a country with a difficult past hope for the future. Our runners have seen some of the charity's work and have met some of the children that are benefitting so I hope they will go away inspired and enthused to continue to support this country and the work of Street Child"   It was a Sierra Leonean double in the two lead categories of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon after local boy  Chris Johnson, 20, took first place in the event's half-marathon.   "I was the leading marathon runner in my country and I'm from Makeni so there was no way that we could have a race like this in my home town without me competing,"said Johnson. "I came second in the recent Liberian marathon but decided to run the half-marathon here today to give other Sierra Leonean athletes the chance to develop more. I hope this event will encourage our people to take courage and move athletics forward in our country."   The 5km race was also won by a Sierra Leonean: 21-year-old Tamba Conteh.   The first international runner to cross the finish line was Tim Elsie, 29, from the UK. There was another UK victory in the women's marathon after Sarah Steer, 36, took first place.   Elsie commented: "It was truly humbling to be part of this marathon. It's been incredibly exciting to see the potential of Sierra Leone and not just in running.   "This event is unique. It's made me aware of the huge task that lies before Street Child and to see what they've already achieved is incredible. Seeing the children, the teachers and the staff has made the experience for me. I'm going to use it to tell people back home about the country and really encourage them to come out and spend time in SL."   Steer commented: "It would feel amazing just to win any marathon but this one is very special. The whole way round the race, people were saying 'thank you' and 'welcome', which was such a big boost and not something you'd experience in any other marathon. There was one moment when I came out of a long track into a village with masses of children jumping up and down, which really helped me to keep going."    In the week prior to the marathon, the 200 international competitors spent their time visiting projects that Street Child of Sierra Leone are undertaking to the benefit of some of the world's most vulnerable children. The charity hopes that these trips will offer runners the chance to better understand where the funds that they have been raising will be spent.   Street Child of Sierra Leone's founder and director, Tom Dannatt, commented: "Now that the marathon's finished, I feel exhausted but ecstatic; the event has gone beyond any level of expectation both in terms of the impact it's created and the interest it's had from the Makeni community.   "Lest we forget, our organisation has physically counted 50,000 children relying upon the streets of Sierra Leone for survival. We hope to help as many of them as we can so I really hope that his event marks a second phase in the development of our organisation.   "This marathon proves that it's possible for us to deliver large, ambitious, innovative events and, when you lay that kind of marker down, I reckon the sky's the limit. The question really is: where can this go next?   "As an athletics event it was incredible to watch the efforts and determination particularly of the younger competitors. But this was predominantly a humanitarian event and it shows the way that 'national' and 'international' can come together in true collaboration. The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon shows that with this kind of spirit, anything is possible."    The Kiln Sierra Leone marathon has been made possible by the kind support of a number of corporate sponsors, all of which have also contributed towards the event through donations and fund-raising. The Kiln Group has already contributed close to £100,000 and others, including leading independent investment dealer, GMP Securities, Tokio Marine, Lloyd & Partners, Miller and Joule Africa, have amassed close to £50,000.   For a selection of more images, please visit the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon Facebook page .   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/general-lord-dannatt-congratulates-winner-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/general-lord-dannatt-congratulates-winner-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ Mon, 11 June 2012 15:45:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/70-runners-arrive-in-sierra-leone/ - More than 300 participants prepare for Race Day   Seventy runners flew in from the UK last night to take part in the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, the first event of its kind ever to be held in Sierra Leone.   With 15 more runners set to arrive before race day and with a recent surge in local interest, a total field of more than 300 participants are preparing to cross the start line on 9 June in Makeni, northern Sierra Leone.   All of the international runners have been busy raising money for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon's official charity partner, Street Child of Sierra Leone. The charity hopes to help 500 boys and 500 girls off the street, establish 50 schools throughout the country, and help more than 5,000 children gain access to education through funds raised from this landmark occasion.   Before the race on Saturday, participants will have the opportunity to visit the projects on which the funds that they have raised will be spent. Having had the chance to interact directly with the children that will benefit and the staff that will implement the work that they are running in support of, it is set to be an incredibly emotional day for the runners that have already invested so much into this unique event.   Runner Rebecca Newsom from London, who arrived earlier in the week, commented: "I couldn't say no to the chance of taking part in Sierra Leone's first marathon. But seeing the incredible impact of Street Child of Sierra Leone's work on the ground has already made the whole trip so much more meaningful.   "Visiting [the Chiefdom of] Tambakha in the north, hearing first-hand how much the community values education and the crucial role Street Child is playing to make this possible was so moving. This is my first marathon but such inspiration will definitely help me cross the finish line."   Tom Dannatt, Street Child of Sierra Leone's founder, added: "Our charity is dedicated to helping some of the most vulnerable children in the world gain access to education and, for those that require it, helping to provide a safe, secure place to live away from a life on the streets. I was very proud to be on the flight with so many new supporters of our charity, all of whom have been hard at work to raise money for the children we are working with.   "All of our participants are not only committed to enduring the unique challenge that this kind of marathon will present, but also to learning more about child development in Sierra Leone. I am incredibly grateful for their support and that of all of the corporate sponsors who have helped to make this marathon possible - not least of all title sponsor the Kiln Group. Their efforts will go a long way towards helping Street Child offer assistance to thousands of children in 2012"   The marathon has been made possible by the kind support of a number of corporate sponsors, all of which have also contributed towards the event through donations and fund-raising. The Kiln Group has already contributed close to £100,000 and others, including Gold Sponsor and leading independent investment dealer, GMP Securities, Tokio Marine, Lloyd & Partners, Miller and Joule Africa, have amassed close to £50,000. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/70-runners-arrive-in-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/70-runners-arrive-in-sierra-leone/ Fri, 08 June 2012 19:23:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leone’s-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-and-counting/ Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon Registrations Running Apace   11 th May 2012: After a recent surge in registrations, and with a little over a month to go until race-day, Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon today announced that 150 runners from 12 countries worldwide have signed up to take part in its inaugural event on 9th June.   The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will be the first event of its kind ever to be held in the country and will see competitors from countries as far afield as the US, the UK, Lithuania, Germany, the Gambia, South Africa and Canada running alongside each other in an effort to raise essential funds for some of the most vulnerable children in the world.   As well as competing in one of three events - a marathon, half-marathon and 5km race - all of the participants are running in support of UK charity, Street Child of Sierra Leone. The charity, launched in 2008, has already helped to reunify more than 1,000 street children with their families, as well as creating educational opportunities and school building projects to benefit those and thousands of other vulnerable children in some of the world's poorest regions.   Street Child's Sierra Leone headquarters are in Makeni, the country's third largest city, which is where the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will be held. This offers all of the 150 registered participants the unique chance to run along the very same streets that many of the children that the charity is working with are forced to rely upon for their survival.   More than that though, the event is also an opportunity for competitors to see exactly where the funds that they are raising will be spent. They will be able to visit projects, interact with the children they're supporting and gain a more in-depth appreciation for the issues that they are helping to tackle.   Tom Dannatt, Street Child of Sierra Leone's founder and director, said: "I'm delighted that this landmark event is proving so popular and want to personally send out my thanks to all of the 150 runners that have registered for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon so far.   " A recent survey carried out by our charity in conjunction with 62 other NGOs and with the support of the Sierra Leone Government identified 50,000 children whose lives are controlled by the streets: nearly 1% of the entire population of Sierra Leone. All of the funds raised through our marathon will go directly towards helping those children.   " At Street Child, we believe that all children have the right to a secure home, a quality education and a sustainable environment in which to develop. The popularity and success of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will go a long way towards helping us ensure that those basic essentials become not just a right for these children, but also a reality."   For more information visit: www.KilnSierraLeoneMarathon.com     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leone’s-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-and-counting/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leone’s-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-and-counting/ Fri, 01 June 2012 20:58:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/kiln-leads-the-way-for-corporate-sponsors-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ Kiln's Fund-Raising Efforts Push Corporate Contributions Past £150,000   31 st May 2012: The Kiln Group, title sponsor for Sierra Leone's first ever marathon, is leading the way for an impressive collection of corporate sponsors and contributors, all of whom are boosting the funds that the marathon will raise in support of some of the most vulnerable children in the world when the event arrives in the Sierra Leonean city of Makeni on 9 th June.   The combined sponsorship and fund-raising total raised by insurance underwriter Kiln is closing in on £100,000, which will go a long way towards achieving the goals of the marathon's UK charity partner, Street Child of Sierra Leone. From funds raised through the marathon, the charity hopes to establish 50 schools in some of Sierra Leone's most rural regions , help 500 girls and boys off the street and help 5,000 children into school this year.   As a result of Kiln's incredible efforts, the total contribution to the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon through sponsorship, donations and fund-raising that has come from corporate associations is now more than £150,000.   Other London-based companies that have helped to amass this impressive total include: Gold Sponsor and leading independent investment dealer, GMP Securities, who have raised around £21,000; as well as Tokio Marine, Lloyd & Partners, Miller and Joule Africa, who have amassed a combined total of close to £20,000.   International contributions have also come from Ibex Insurance in Gibraltar, Philadelphia Insurance Companies from the US and the marathon's latest sponsor, VistaPrint, based in Barcelona.   Street Child of Sierra Leone's founder, Tom Dannatt, commented:"We are incredibly grateful to all of the companies that have got behind the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon in support of our charity, most notably the incredibly generous contribution that's been received from our title sponsor, the Kiln Group. Their huge contribution to our fund-raising goals will leave a long-lasting legacy for tens of thousands of children in one of the poorest countries in the world.   "The majority of the more than £1,000,000 that Street Child has already spent in Sierra Leone since our establishment in 2008 has come from long-standing corporate associations and I'm delighted to see that our partnership with Sierra Leone's first ever marathon is helping to continue that tradition."   The Kiln Group is also sending a group of intrepid runners to join the 150 international participants in this unique event.   Those runners are hard at work raising their own personal sponsorship in support of Street Child of Sierra Leone. All of them will have the opportunity to visit the charity's projects, meet some of the thousands of children that the charity is working with and learn more about exactly where the funds that they have raised will be spent.   To support the children of Sierra Leone that will benefit from Sierra Leone's first Marathon, text KSLM12 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070 or visit www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/donate http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/kiln-leads-the-way-for-corporate-sponsors-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/kiln-leads-the-way-for-corporate-sponsors-of-sierra-leone’s-first-marathon/ Fri, 01 June 2012 22:00:00 Lewis Aldridge http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/20th-may-training-run-(1)/ What a great training run we've just had. Thank you to everyone who came. We gathered at Speakers Corner and after a quick espresso for those who'd had one to many beers watching last nights Champions Leaque final we were all on our way. We did one lap of Hyde Park taking in Marble Arch, Kensington Garden and the Albert Hall and then had a quick stop to watch a number of regiments of the Cavalry give a memorial service for all those that had fought and died during past wars. Parades of marching bands, bowler hats and medals made it feel very special. Before our legs had time to sieze up we were off over the road to Green Park and then down to Buckingham Palace, along to St James's Square and into St James's Park. From there we headed past Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliment and then ran along the embankment of the Thames. We finished the group run at Tower Hill and those wanting to run more than the 9 or so miles we'd covered carried on towards their final destinations. Sometimes I forget just how wonderful runinng in this city can be.  It was great to have a chance to chat and make friends with others before the big day. In fact, it was so good that I'm going to do it again next Saturday 26th May at 10am. Anyone interested? Someone say yes before the buzz of the run wears off and I change my mind!    lewis@street-child.co.uk http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/20th-may-training-run-(1)/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/20th-may-training-run-(1)/ Mon, 21 May 2012 15:34:00 Martin Forsyth http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leones-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-(and-counting!)/ After a recent surge inregistrations, and with less than a month to go until race-day, Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon today announced that 150 runners from 12 countries worldwide have signed up to take part in its inaugural event on 9th June.   The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will be the first event of its kind ever to be held in the country and will see competitors from countries as far afield as the US, the UK, Lithuania, Germany, the Gambia, South Africa and Canada running alongside each other in an effort to raise essential funds for some of the most vulnerable children in the world.   As well as competing in one of three events - a marathon, half-marathon and 5km race - all of the participants are running in support ofUKcharity, Street Child of Sierra Leone. The charity, launched in 2008, has already helped to reunify more than 1,000 street children with their families, as well as creating educational opportunities and school building projects to benefit those and thousands of other vulnerable children in some of the world's poorest regions.   Street Child'sSierra Leoneheadquarters are in Makeni, the country's third largest city, which is where the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will be held. This offers all of the 150 registered participants the unique chance to run along the very same streets that many of the children that the charity is working with are forced to rely upon for their survival.   More than that though, the event is also an opportunity for competitors to see exactly where the funds that they are raising will be spent. They will be able to visit projects, interact with the children they're supporting and gain a more in-depth appreciation for the issues that they are helping to tackle.   Tom Dannatt, Street Child of Sierra Leone's founder and director, said: "I'm delighted that this landmark event is proving so popular and want to personally send out my thanks to all of the 150 runners that have registered for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon so far.   "A recent survey carried out by our charity in conjunction with 62 other NGOs and with the support of the Sierra Leone Government identified 50,000 children whose lives are controlled by the streets: nearly 1% of the entire population ofSierra Leone. All of the funds raised through our marathon will go directly towards helping those children.     "At Street Child, we believe that all children have the right to a secure home, a quality education and a sustainable environment in which to develop. The popularity and success of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will go a long way towards helping us ensure that those basic essentials become not just a right for these children, but also a reality." http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leones-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-(and-counting!)/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/sierra-leones-first-marathon-attracts-150-runners-(and-counting!)/ Mon, 14 May 2012 14:08:00 Megan Lees-McCowan http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/last-runners-event-may-16-bar-soho/ Dear runners,   There are just 26 days to go until race day! I hope you are all as excited as we are in the office. As part of the race prep we would like to invite all runners to join us at: Bar Soho on Wed May 16 at 7pm. Click  here  to see how to get there.   This will be our last UK event before you head out to Sierra Leone, , so we hope that you'll be able to attend. We'll be handing out 'Before You Go' packs, as well as offering the chance to ask any questions of our Street Child team. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear about progress from Ben Hodgson, our Race Director, who will once again join us from Africa; Matt Pain, our training advisor, and also to meet Lewis Aldridge, our latest addition to the team, who has run a number of marathons including the Marathon des Sables.   Ben, Lewis, Matt and others will be happy to answer any questions you might have about race organisation or what it's like to train and run in the African heat. For our runners based outside of the UK - we'll see you in Sierra Leone! Your pack will be sent by e-mail, in the meantime do get in touch if you have any questions.   Please RSVP to info@street-child.co.uk. We look forward to seeing everyone there!   Best regards,   The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon Team http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/last-runners-event-may-16-bar-soho/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/last-runners-event-may-16-bar-soho/ Mon, 14 May 2012 14:07:00 Lewis Aldridge http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/six-tips-for-the-last-few-weeks/   Six tips for the last few weeks… 1.      Keep your training fun:   Try varying your usual route. Take your watch off once in a while. And why not join other Sierra Leone marathon runners on our last training run in Hyde Park on the 20th May at 10am (meet at Speakers Corner by Marble Arch) 2.      Taper: Start to reduce your mileage about 3 weeks before.  Don't be tempted to run long - save your energy for race day.  Use the time to recover: catch up on sleep, write those fundraising emails,  and do some gentle stretching. 3.      Plan your race kit: See Matt's tips on the training page of the website on kit suited to heat and humid conditions.  Do try out any kit before race day. 4.      Practise your hydration strategy : Plan your hydration strategy: it's best to drink little and often.  While there will be regular water stops, have you considered carrying your own camelback or water bottle?  Practice it during training.  It's also a good idea to replace minerals lost through sweat.  Good ways of doing this are mixing sachets of energy drink with your water or adding 'nuun' tablets.    5.      Practise eating:  Plan to fuel your body with what works for you: take food which you find easily digestible.  Energy bars and gels are an efficient way of taking in carbs.  Runners often find gels easier to consume than bars, but remember that most need to be taken with 150-200ml of water to be absorbed (with the exception of the SIS brand).  Work out how you'll carry them (pockets of shorts? Race belt?)  Don't try them for the first time on race day!  Finally, brace yourself to get up for a dawn run as you will be doing this on race day and may need to eat earlier than usual. 6. Plan for the race route Try to fit in some trail running to prepare for the substantial off-road sections of the race route. Check out the website to see where the route will take you so you have a rough idea what to expect, and how to pace yourself - and start getting excited !      http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/six-tips-for-the-last-few-weeks/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/six-tips-for-the-last-few-weeks/ Tue, 08 May 2012 13:33:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sport-in-development-and-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Below is a piece our 2012 Race Director Ben Hodgson submitted to the Guardian's Development Podcast on the topic of sport as a development tool.      In June I was part of a team that organised the first ever mass-participation marathon to be held in Sierra Leone. The primary objective of the event was to raise money for the UK charity Street Child of Sierra Leone by generating corporate and runner sponsorship. In this regard, the marathon was a spectacular success.   But there were several ancillary aims. The first of these was to leverage the extraordinary challenge of running a marathon in Sierra Leone to persuade existing and new supporters of the charity to visit Sierra Leone, to see the country first hand and to visit the charity's street child and school building projects. There is surely no better way to raise overseas awareness of the social, health and educational challenges in countries like Sierra Leone than for visitors to see them first hand and, hopefully, become ambassadors for those causes.   The second ancillary aim was to hold an event in which Sierra Leoneans and foreign athletes would line up side by side, creating a truly international and inclusive flavour. Of the 380 runners that took part, about half were foreign nationals from more than a dozen countries. Some Sierra Leonean athletes were former street children or amputees. Much like Londoners during the Olympics, the marathon was greeted by spectators (and some stakeholders) with a heart-warming juxtaposition of pride and bemusement. Both of those things were accentuated by the fact that the run took place in the small city of Makeni, far from Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital and tourism and development hub, where big events and foreign faces are far more ubiquitous. The third aim was to provide a platform for established and aspirant Sierra Leonean athletes to take part in a well-organised race with international profile, and sufficient prize money to make the training worthwhile. We were delighted when the race was won by Idrissa Kargbo, a Sierra Leonean running his first marathon, in a time (2 hours 38 minutes) that defied the road surfaces and hot conditions.   Even beyond these aims, there have been unforeseen positives flowing from the event. One foreign competitor in the marathon is now investigating ways of creating a long-term program to support the development of promising distance runners in Sierra Leone, and the marathon provided an opportunity for corporates in Sierra Leone and the UK who had not previously sponsored sports events to do so.   Moreover, in a country where gender equality remains a massive issue, the sight of the only Sierra Leonean woman to enter the marathon finishing in fourth place cannot have done that cause any harm.   The marathon generated revenue and profile, certainly. But it also generated pride amongst participants and spectators alike. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it inspired a whole generation, but it was a spectacular example of the power of sport to unify, empower and engage in a country that is still finding its feet. Projects like the Sierra Leone Marathon, and those run by Fambul Tok and the Craig Bellamy Foundation, can help to unlock both individual and collective sporting potential and self-esteem, and in doing so contribute to the promotion of a sense of national identity in countries where this is fragile.   Working on the marathon led me to conclude that sport is at its best as development tool when the development of sport itself is part of the aim. Above all, though, sport is fun to do and fun to watch. And a bit of fun goes a long way. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sport-in-development-and-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sport-in-development-and-the-sierra-leone-marathon/ Thu, 23 August 2012 17:20:00 Caer Smyth http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sarahs-marathon-win-in-sierra-leone/   Sarah Steer, female winner of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, was interviewed in Cambridge Evening News yesterday. It's a great piece, about the Steers, the marathon and Street Child!     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sarahs-marathon-win-in-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sarahs-marathon-win-in-sierra-leone/ Thu, 02 August 2012 14:32:00 Jannah Britt-Green http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-international-marathon-in-sierra-leone/ Street Child trustee Jannah Britt-Green on Wanderlust's online community, myWanderlust describing her experience of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon.   How long were you there for? A week, but some stayed even longer to visit more projects and spend time travelling around the country What was the single highlight of your trip? Getting to visit the marathon's charity - Street Child of Sierra Leone's - projects and see their amazing work with street children and their families. And see so many inspired runners there who ran to raise monies for these projects. It was amazing! Any lowlights/cautionary tales? The old DeCaprio "TIA" (this is Africa) is what you want to go on...So, nothing quite happens like it would in London, but that's part of the adventure. My friend's passport was stolen, but we worked a miracle and got an emergency one in less than 8 hrs! Any absolutely MUST see sights/activities? Up country - around Makeni - where we held the marathon was beautiful lush countryside and wonderful people to meet. But I think no one would argue that Tokeh and No 2 beaches are a real favourite! Absolutely stunning...and you virtually have them to yourself. Oh, and Tacugama chimp reserve too! Any absolutely DON'T see sights/activities? You don't want to see the local police office (manic!) - where we had to get our missing passport report for my friend - but they were all so lovely and helped us work an absolute miracle. Huge thanks to them! If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be? Keep your bags with you at all times...but don't worry - it doesn't happen very often at all. Be sure to bring £ or $ with you and exchange for Leones (local currency) at Crown Bakery in Freetown if you can - they give the best exchange rates...and they have the best international food too. Any other comments? We would all encourage any adventurers or runners to register for next year's marathon - it was a life-changing experience for everyone. Go to www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com or www.street-child.co.uk for further info on registering.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-international-marathon-in-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-international-marathon-in-sierra-leone/ Wed, 11 July 2012 13:59:00 Henry Brigstocke http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sierra-leone-and-the-marathon/ Sierra Leone is an extremely beautiful, exciting, vibrant and yet largely dysfunctional country. Journeys by road can take anything up to 5 times their intended length and although there is evidence of progress there is little in terms of infrastructure. The countryside itself is stunning, and as it was the beginning of the rainy season, appeared particularly green framed by the deep red soil that seems to stretch across most of the country. In spite of looking particularly fertile there seemed to be relatively little in terms of cultivated land which I assume is a legacy of the civil war and lack of education. Whilst I would suggest that we were largely sheltered from some of the more aggressively poor urban areas the people were very friendly and I was touched by the enthusiasm with which we were greeted, most particularly in Makeni, where the marathon took place. Disorganisation prevailed in most of our interaction with the local people where even the simpler tasks were complicated by the involvement and input of 6 or 7 times the number of people that seemed reasonably necessary. The shops that line the towns sell a strange, seemingly disconnected collection of items, and most of the people you see appear busy, if not especially industrious. In spite of the poverty and the chaos, the overriding atmosphere was positive, optimistic and enthusiastic. There appears to be a generation of youngsters who remain deeply affected by the civil war but do not carry the immediate scars of the conflict. Children are everywhere which may in small part explain the preponderance of "safe sex" adverts which adorn the roads throughout the country.   The race itself started at 6.30 in the morning on Saturday 9 th June and standing in the half light of a Sierra Leonean dawn having arrived less than 48 hours earlier felt ominously surreal. British General Richard Dannat spoke encouragingly before the start of the race, ushering us towards the start, before it became apparent that more than half of the runners were standing on the wrong side of the line and facing in the wrong direction. My memories of the start are quite vague but before I had the chance to digest the situation we were off and running. I do recall a handful of locals sprinting out of the starting field at what I would consider Olympic pace. I like to think that they soon tired but given that I do not recall having seen any of them again I can only assume that they finished many minutes ahead of me. The course meandered its way out of tarmacked Makeni and into a far more rural setting. Along the route were many villages, one of which Helen got to know very well for reasons best explained by her, and each was lined by locals whose reactions ranged from the fiercely enthusiastic to the somewhat bemused. In general I felt immense support, so much so that it is with some embarrassment that I recall feeling almost heroic as I strode purposefully through the first 6 or 7 miles. By the time I reached halfway, on an extremely undulating course, I was well under 2 hours, however a nagging feeling had already entered my head that I may have over-cooked it. Within a further 2 miles, the sun had uncompromisingly risen above the trees and my nagging thought had transformed into something so patently obvious that I became genuinely worried that I was not going to complete it. The second half of the race took us further into the countryside down small trails that cut their way through the undergrowth. By this stage I was struggling, however very occasionally was able to take stock and appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. Sadly these reflections were short lived and quickly replaced by a burning desire to stop running in spite of the support of many villagers who appeared distinctly disappointed by my efforts. In truth, for the final third of the race I decided to walk up all of the hills (my definition of a hill became looser as the race went on) reasoning that it took much less effort and in reality I seemed to be moving at roughly the same pace. The second half of the race was quite lonely. By the latter stages the runners were so far separated that I only ran past 2 or 3 and was overtaken by broadly the same number. As we made our way back into Makeni the temperatures had reached 35 degrees Celsius which felt all the more intense as the heat reflected off the concrete and the air became more polluted in the bustling town. With considerable relief I finally rounded the last corner and staggered my way towards the finish, looking nothing like the heroic figure that I had painted of myself in my deluded imagination. Finishing time: a shade over 4 hours 23 which in retrospect feels a touch disappointing but not bad given the conditions which were universally acknowledged to have been incredibly tough. I managed to finish ahead of several seasoned marathon runners including Kiln's Brian "the Heff" Heffernan who has run comfortably under 3 and a half hour marathons. I'm sorry to Brian for taking his name in vain but I am far too proud to leave my time in isolation without providing some sense of relativity!   More pleasing than finishing the race was watching the other Kiln participants finish and gathering together in the aftermath of the race. I can honestly say that I have never been so glad to see fellow colleagues and suspect I never will again. Four and a half hours in the gruelling heat invoked a reaction to their smiling/exhausted faces that felt a far cry from the mumbled greetings shared in the coffee area on a Monday morning. Whilst almost everyone ended up going a little slower than they had planned, everyone achieved what they set out to and completed their races, be it the marathon, half marathon or 5km. I felt extremely proud to be part of such a successful group and hugely privileged to share in their successes.   Following the race, after a night of exuberant celebration, we had the opportunity to visit some of the Street Child Of Sierra Leone projects. We travelled to a particularly remote part of Sierra Leone called Thambakha where we visited a number of schools, meeting with some of the teachers, and many of the children who were so excited to see us. Street Child have invested considerable effort and resources into the communities within which they have established schools and it was fantastic to see where the money raised is being spent. Whilst the facilities are extremely basic it was incredibly heart-warming to witness how enthusiastic the children were and gain a sense of the difference that these initiatives will make to their lives. The logistics of getting 300 runners safely around a marathon in a remote corner of Western Africa clearly demonstrated to me that Street Child is a charity that is able to get the job done, organise effectively, and spend wisely in extremely difficult conditions. Although considerable praise has been given to the runners, the real praise should be reserved for the volunteers who have devoted such significant time and effort towards transforming a country with such a troubled history and considerable poverty. I believe they are doing a great job and Sierra Leone's future is much brighter for their efforts.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sierra-leone-and-the-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/sierra-leone-and-the-marathon/ Wed, 11 July 2012 13:33:00 Lewis Aldridge http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-for-street-child-of-sierra-leone/ "I've just come back from a wonderful and inspiring trip to Sierra Leone and wanted to tell everyone at Rainbow Tours about it. I'm in love with Africa and spend as many of my holidays there as possible, but up until now I hadn't been anywhere over in the West. I also love running. So when I heard there was a charity organising the first ever marathon to be run in Sierra Leone, it was something that I just had to get involved with.   We flew direct from London to Freetown and transferred straight to Makeni where the run was to be held and where the charity, Street Child of Sierra Leone, works tirelessly to get children off the streets and back into school. The marathon day itself was phenomenal. I've run about a dozen marathons and it was the best one by far. The scenery was sublime and the atmosphere was electric, but perhaps above all I think it was the 170 or so international runners all running for the same cause which made it really special.   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, image by Mark Gillett   After leaving Makeni I decided to rest my tired legs by spending a few days down by the sea. The beaches in  Sierra Leone  are some of the best in the world. I spent one night on the delightful Banana Island followed by two nights on the wonderful Tokey Beach. And on the last day I went to see the Sierra Leone national football team play in the national stadium in Freetown. I recommend it all. I love Sierra Leone. It's safe, friendly and practically devoid of tourists. I can't wait to go back for next years race!" http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-for-street-child-of-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-for-street-child-of-sierra-leone/ Fri, 06 July 2012 17:03:00 Roger Bickmore http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/on-sierra-leone/ In the insurance industry we devour statistics. We want to measure everything. Our understanding of the world around us is mostly numeric. How much; how many; how long are the questions we always ask. So a place that has endured 10 years of a brutal civil war; which is ranking 180 out of 187 in the UN index of human development; where 40% of the population is illiterate and 50% are under 18, turns out to be poor was not the surprise. That their people are generous and welcoming, optimistic for the future and organisations are so successfully rebuilding this broken society; that this lush fertile country is so stunningly beautiful is the part of the story that the numbers fail to tell, that I took away from my trip last week to Sierra Leone.         To celebrate fifty years in business, partnering with the Street Child charity, Kiln sponsored the first Sierra Leone marathon on 9 June in the northern town of Makeni. Taking a team of 20 employees from the company to participate in the race as part of an international contingent of 200 runners; to visit the projects, mix with the kids and be inspired by the volunteers and to see the bustling markets and remote rural villages was an experience that was so enriching that it shall stay with me forever. The cause, to get children off the streets; provide them with food, medical care, clothing and counselling and to offer the more remote rural communities access to basic schooling is vital to the future of Sierra Leone, its stability and prosperity. In organising the event the target was to raise £250,000 and we shall be close to achieving this thanks to the energy and tenacity of the participants and the wonderful generosity of those donating.   Race day itself will stick in the memory. At dawn the field of 386 evenly split between local and international runners headed off into the outer reaches of Makeni. Families came out of their huts and houses to see a spectacle probably beyond their imagination. The kids ran alongside us waving and crying out the by now familiar "Opoto!" basically "White Man", many of the adults said thank you and an equally large number looked utterly bewildered. The compacted bouncy mud tracks were near perfect to run on and in the early morning light, shone a rich golden brown against the lush green canopy of trees and bushes. Those running the 5km soon left and after an hour or so the half-marathon crew were filtered off on their return journey back to the city. In a cloudless blue sky, sun beating down and temperatures rising close to 30 degrees, those like me on the full marathon course eventually left behind the remaining few houses and pounded on in silence up-country.   On undulating lanes, tracks and pathways, some shaded most not, the route wound its lazy way through forests, passing rice fields, traversing newly laid railway lines servicing the mines and at one point crossing the Mabole River on a high perilous bridge. Mercifully water stations were sited at frequent intervals but with a spread field and few bystanders, the journey was soon to become an inner battle as much as a fight with the terrain and the conditions. Most of the mile markers had been stolen the previous night for firewood so with no clear idea of orientation, when the course eventually returned to something approaching civilisation, the only thing to be trusted was the watch on your wrist and mine was telling me that I had now been running longer than I had ever done so before.   Thankfully there were few mad dogs as this Englishman had not bothered with rabies injections but the midday sun was beating down fiercely as the race entered its final stages in the lunacy of central Makeni with the Saturday lunchtime market in full flow. Dodging motorbikes slaloming erratically up the narrow streets and feeling the wind rush from the "poda-poda" minibuses grazing the arms, after an eternity the surroundings at last took on a more familiar feel: first the clock tower; the Street Child club house; then the Amzas hotel which was our base and finally the finish line with a big crowd of well-wishers back where we had started at Birch Field.   For number lovers, I had finished in 5 hrs 40 mins but someway behind the winner Idrissa Kargbo who managed a terrific 2 hrs 46 mins which was a remarkable achievement given the heat and track. Fortunately there were just 5 medical cases reported, all of which were quite minor with all 20 Kiln runners returning shattered but in one piece. At the evening party we drank so many beers that I lost count!  More importantly with your help today we are close to raising the £250,000. That would be enough to fund 500 children from a life on the street to a life at home; employ 200 nurses or social workers for a year; or put 6,250 kids into schooling. Please if you have still not done so give generously at www.justgiving.com/rogerbickmore .   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/on-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/on-sierra-leone/ Wed, 04 July 2012 14:52:00 Josh Ord-Hume http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-makeni-marathon/ People who do not know me very well see me as a jaded, cynical, irascible, self-serving and embittered, grumpy old curmudgeon.        People who have known me all or most of my life can confirm that this is indeed the case. But in the week leading up to June 9, there was a great deal of peace, love and goodwill sloshing through the dirt tracks that link the settlements surrounding Makeni… and not even I was completely unmoved by it.                                                          Much struck me during my stay in Sierra Leone. As I was visiting the various schools and projects that have been (and continue to be) funded by Street Child, it occurred to me that many runners who compete in marathons on behalf of a charity do so as a means to an end… and the charity and the work that it does remain something of an abstract. Of course, this is a gross oversimplification and there are many exceptions to this. Many of the people within my immediate running community compete in order to keep alive the memory of a lost relative and honour them. Others run on behalf of a charity or association because they have been a direct beneficiary of the work they do and feel something of an emotional bond with it. But for many, the charity is of secondary importance. Runners tend to be much more focused on running the marathon - training for it, their mental and physical preparations, how competing in it makes them feel, how it changes them personally - than on raising money.   One of the consequences of spending a week in Sierra Leonebeforethe marathon was that each and every one of us ended up embracing the cause wholeheartedly - and completely believing in its legitimacy. So much so that for every single person, providing demonstrations of athletic prowess became completely secondary to raising money, raising awareness... and raising Street Child's profile.   Between 1991 and 2002 the Sierra Leone Civil War devastated the country leaving more than 50,000 people dead, much of the country's infrastructure destroyed, and over two million people displaced into neighbouring countries - mainly to Guinea, which was home to nearly one million Sierra Leonean refugees. Despite being a country of enormous natural wealth, more than 70% of its people live in poverty, the vast majority surviving on considerably less than one US dollar per day. And until very recently, it ranked as the world's poorest - and the most underdeveloped - country. Two generations have more or less been "lost". Sierra Leone's children continue to be the main victims of the country's civil war. They are left to eke out an existence, resorting to begging, stealing, working in hazardous conditions...  and prostitution.  Which is why Tom Dannatt founded Street Child: to take action in order to take children off the streets, and to address the factors that result in children fleeing their homes or being driven away from them.   While I was trying to raise money on behalf of the charity, many of the people I contacted expressed their reluctance to donate money to any organisation that professed to champion the needs of people in Africa. There is still a widespread belief that corruption is endemic inallAfrican countries and that any money donated is ultimately spent on anything but the cause for which funds are supposedly being raised. One can understand this reaction. In the past, money raised by charitable organisations would spend ages - sometimes years - trapped in the slow-moving wheels of the complex mechanisms of the legislation that determined the conditions that needed to be satisfied before it could be released (usually in a trickle) into the projects it was intended to fund. Enough time for it to be diverted, depleted... or just lost.                           So back to what struck me in Sierra Leone. The idea to hold West Africa's first official marathon is barely a year old, and the first runners registered only seven months ago. The first JustGiving site  was  set  up  in  January  of  this  year.  And yet... I saw so many village schools (extensive, sophisticated structures) that hadonly just been built- thanks to the money that you have helped to raise. The relationship between clicks of a mouse and funds finding their way into the project is so close that you can literally touch the fruits of it. Lean up against it. Stand in its impressive shadow.   The money generated by the JustGiving site is banked almost as soon as it is donated and only a few days later it is being spent on building schools, recruiting and training teachers...  and then paying their salaries. It's difficult to resist the temptation to resort to statistics - but they really do speak for themselves. £15 feeds a child twice a day for a month. £40 pays for a child to attend school for an entire year. £100 pays a monthly salary of a teacher, nurse or social worker. £500 completely transforms the life of a child. I hope this goes some way towards demonstrating that each of you has made a huge difference.   I competed in the marathon after a week spent travelling through Sierra Leone. I was dehydrated, seriously low on glycogen and had a minor kidney problem. I had also had very little sleep (mainly due to my endless battles with mosquitoes). In other words, my pre-race preparation was non-existent. My alarm went off at 3 AM on race day and I managed to eat a cup full of Tesco's organic porridge (that I had brought with me) prepared with cold water. As I walked to the race start in the West African night, I knew that I was not exactly going to shine as an international athlete.   Indeed, almost as soon as the race started, I was struggling to maintain pace. By 7 AM, the sun was ridiculously high in the sky and the air felt as though it had come from a blast furnace and then been wrapped up in damp sheep's wool. The terrain was varied, but for the most part difficult. And at one point, around 30% of all runners had to stop for nearly 10 minutes while a 2.5 km-long unscheduled African Minerals train crossed the course from the diamond mines. But for the first time in what I sometimes humorously refer to as my "running career", I can honestly say that I was not remotely concerned about my time. I got much more of a kick out of high-fiving the kids whose villages we went through, stopping to take pictures of them and considering the fact that there was a very real chance that this hare-brained endeavour was going to have a dramatic and positive effect on their lives.                   One more thing. People who compete in races in the UK and the rest of Europe are very accustomed to having messages of encouragement shouted out to them by members of the crowd. What I am completelyunaccustomedto is having people thank me as I run through their village. Somehow, word had spread among all the settlements around Makeni that 150 white people were going to be running like idiots through their villages under the scorching sunfor their benefit. The children in these villages only know two words in English - "thank you".  And hearing them use those words - with the biggest possible smiles on their faces - as I perspired and wheezed my way among their huts is one of the most moving experiences of my life.   To those who made this possible, by sponsoring runners, or by organising the event, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for helping me to raise enough money for me to feel able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sierra Leone athletes and make marathon history in West Africa... and be part of an event that will hopefully go a tiny way towards helping the country a little further along the path towards recovery, development and ultimately fulfilling its potential.   And this year was just the start…     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-makeni-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-makeni-marathon/ Wed, 27 June 2012 17:41:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-making-of-the-marathon/   After my 5 day holiday on the beautiful peninsula beached, including a sejour in Tribe Wanted at Jon Obey, I was well rested and ready to get the painfully anticipated miles under my belt.   The Marathon runners are in Makeni! The centre received a selection of runners who played and entertained the Street Child beneficiaries with Karate lessons, footie, arts and crafts, slack-lining and kiddie tennis, while others visited projects in and around, including schools and centres in Bambuna, Magburaka, Tambakha and Masymra. This gave people a chance to really see and take part in the projects and instrumental work that they were fundraising for.        The Friday before the race involved a good 10 hour slog trying to get things set up, directed by Ben and his various underlings, including his 2 siblings. We got on with the task of preparing the finishing area and the water station requirements. Interrupted by the worst rain storm I had seen in 3 weeks, we managed to assign approximately 6000 bags of water, 18 water stations, 40 sponsorship banners, reams of red and white tape, medical supplies and much more - with the help of local children. By late evening, we managed to get ourselves a carb loading feed, and a relatively early night in preparation for the next day's excitement.   Alarm went off at 4.30 am, getting ready for a half marathon in the dark is interesting. Early morning breakfast of Adema's rice and banana cake plus a high 5 drink.  The anticipation of the race had been long awaited, and as expected it went by like a blur, a dream, an amalgam of emotions, sights and sounds. So what happened when 386 runners ran through the streets of Makeni and the nearby villages, an area that sees virtually no tourism and never in its history had so many Aportos descend on it: the children were gob smacked; the people didn't know what to say or do, excited, dumfounded and happy; little hands offered high fives along the way and children ran along beside. A lasting impression that I got was that the locals did not know what to do, have they ever had such an event to react to, unlikely. In the years to come, should the challenge be taken on again, the population will understand what it is to be excited and take part even more, cheering, helping, running. It was an absolute pleasure to be part of something so original and epic. Everything seemed to go smoothly, so, all the time, sweat and tears paid off, little was left to chance which is testimony to all the hard work that went into the organisation of the race.   Thank you to everyone that made it the day that it was, it will remain in my memory as one of the greatest, hottest and fun days of my life, following three very inspirational and insightful weeks in Sierra Leone.      http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-making-of-the-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-making-of-the-marathon/ Thu, 21 June 2012 11:08:00 Charlie Habershon http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/dust-sweat-and-cheers-sierra-leones-first-international-marathon/ By Charlie Habershon, Co-founder of The Collective SL   'Aporto, aporto' is the cry of Makeni's children whenever a white person is spotted. This comes from the Temne word for the early Portuguese settlers. But by 12 o'clock on Saturday the children's voices were hoarse. Never had they seen so many 'Aportos' on the streets of Makeni. Sierra Leone's first International marathon, organised by the charity Street Child of Sierra Leone, had just been completed. Running a Marathon is no easy task. Doing it in the heat of Sierra Leone, is exceptional. Officials reported that temperatures were at 32 degrees with a staggering 92% humidity. I took the decision not to run. Instead, along with The Collective - Sierra Leone volunteers I joined the support team ensuring that the runners had water, energy snacks and moral support around the track. All of us at The Collective were keeping a close eye out for Sally, a local runner who was a friend of our volunteers.   I first met Sally in January, when we stopped in at the local poyo bar close to our volunteer's house. She was working hard ensuring all the local drinkers had their cups full of palm wine. She told us of her love for running. She had been part of a team that took part in the annual Waterloo to Freetown race, an event in which she finished second. Sadly, women's athletics has for a long time been short on funding and so she has received very little formal training. Fortunately, our first cohort of volunteers were keen runners. They soon got to know Sally and began to run with her in the early mornings. She would consistently put them through the paces, gliding gracefully over the muddy tracks around the outskirts of Makeni. While the volunteers rested over breakfast, Sally was straight back to work selling drinks. When it came to marathon registration, the volunteers all got together to pay Sally's entry fee and gave her some running kit that could give her the edge.   Come race day, we gave Sally a lift to start line. She seemed unfazed by the challenge and excited to get started. I found out later that she had not even had breakfast. Surrounded by over a hundred runners from around the world, she looked relaxed as the official signalled the start of the race.   Two and a half hours later and the runners started to trickle in. We continued to keep a close eye for Sally, hoping that she could be up amongst the top women. At around the 4 hour mark, the first female came across the line an experienced runner from the UK. This was a pattern that followed for the top three. But at around the 4:20 minute mark we spotted Sally, charging towards the line. As she breezed past the finish, she became the first Sierra Leone women ever to complete a marathon on home soil. What's more she barely looked tired.   As the other runners came in, Sally danced to the local band and quizzically examined the various energy supplements in her goody bag. It was an emotional moment as she stepped onto the podium with her proud father to receive her cheque from a local representative of UN women. But soon after her moment of glory it was back to work, selling drinks like she has always done. It was a remarkable day for three simple reasons. Firstly, the organisers brought over 150 people from around the world to Sierra Leone. These people saw the beauty of the country, met the people and will now return home with positive stories. Secondly, it gave Sierra Leone athletes, like Sally, the opportunity to run in a competitive race and learn from experienced runners. Hopefully they will be motivated to continue to train and sponsors will step forward to make the dream of Rio in 2016 a reality. And finally, and probably most remarkably, everyone finished.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/dust-sweat-and-cheers-sierra-leones-first-international-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/dust-sweat-and-cheers-sierra-leones-first-international-marathon/ Tue, 19 June 2012 17:00:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/hydrate,-hydrate,-hydrate/ Saturday   In the mornings, sitting on the veranda, greeted by all who come by - Ow di morning, Ow u sleep. De mornin fine.   This afternoon I went to a training session for the people involved with 'Kids Clubs'. Kids club is a brilliant initiative that Street Child formed wherein children at school can pass on information to other street children and other pupils, in order to eliminate the stigma associated with street kids and helping integrate them. The workshop was attended by teachers and pupils that are leading the Kids Club initiative in their associated schools. The passion and care that the participants showed in the interactive session was brilliant. This is a great initiative.   Second training run Sunday.   Ben was running the half marathon course today, with Mohammed, so I joined and did the 5km. This was even more humid and we left earlier! The air so thick, that you have to breath twice as hard and twice as deeply in order to take in enough oxygen. Keeping up with the boys, then I peeled off to leave them do the half.  Jogging on alone did attract some attention, particularly by 2 dogs, barking and chasing me down the street - by this point I was sprinting away.   On returning home I collected water from the well and doused myself in cool water, emerging my head in the bucket! Then, no word of a lie. I had to lie completely motionless, spread eagle for 20 minutes before my body heat came down. Still continuously sweating from face and neck. We have to be prepared for all eventualities. Humid and overcast to sunny and mildly humid and everything in between. Pray for rain the night before. Yesterday's weather was so perfect for the marathon, it was relatively cool and overcast, so there is hope.   The boys got back, having run the course in under 2 hours. Mohamed looked totally relaxed, Ben on the other hand was pretty knackered, he sweated out over half a litre of water while regaining his strength, after running! This just shows how much water is lost while running in this heat. Keep hydrated, especially since the body loses its ability to cool itself when dehydrated. Hydration and nutrition need to be taken extremely seriously!   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/hydrate,-hydrate,-hydrate/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/hydrate,-hydrate,-hydrate/ Thu, 31 May 2012 15:24:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-big-news-in-norfolk/ The Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk has written a great piece about Street Child and the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon! Daivd Prior, chief executive of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, talks about Street Child, and about the marathon in particular. In his words, "London, watch out!"   Read it for yourself at ' Giving Children Hope in their Fight for Survival'. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-big-news-in-norfolk/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-big-news-in-norfolk/ Thu, 31 May 2012 14:16:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-prologue-part-1/ Having aircon in my room in Sierra Leone has been something of a novelty. That and the fact that the AMZAS hotel is seemingly, by some miracle, a "no bark, no howl" zone for dogs, has made sleep both easier and more plentiful. So it wasn't too much of a wrench to roll of bed at 5.30 this morning to meet Mohamed Conteh and Emilie Walsh at the start of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon at 6.   With the kind of foresight that I will not be exhibiting on race day, I had forgotten to stock up on water the night before so only had about a litre and a half to pour into my Camelbak. The bare minimum I would need, I thought, to keep me going around the half marathon course.   That aside, the day was starting well. As I left the hotel at 5.55, it was obvious that it would be light enough to start the actual races earlier than the 6.30am gun I had anticipated. As it turned out, we were able to set off at 6.15.   It was overcast and humid and within a mile or so, the sweat had started pool. Except for Mohamed, who was as dry as Sierra Leone in February until about mile 6, when he managed a couple of rivulets on his temple. Emilie peeled off to follow the 5km course, and Mohamed and I continued along the half marathon course. Although lots of people were up and about, and breakfasts were in an advanced state of preparation, there was slightly less noise from the no doubt still sleepy kids along the route. Traffic was virtually non-existent, except on the main roads, which was also reassuring.   At Panlap junction we turned onto the hard mud surface of the Kamakwie highway and saw only three motorbikes on the road from mile 6 to mile 11. What we did see a lot of were women and children carrying bundles of wood, and plastic tubs filled with cassava or huge piles of mangoes. They don't look like the ones you get in Sainsbury's, mind. Most are about the size of a large lemon and yellow-skinned. I'll be sampling as many as I can in the next few days.   Our pace was good, but not excessive and although I began to tire in the last two miles, I think this was probably down to rationing my water too much early on and suffering as a result. A valuable lesson in the effects of dehydration. It was still overcast as we finished, but the sun did start to break though by late morning. Overcast is vastly preferable, so fingers crossed for that on the 9 th .   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-prologue-part-1/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-prologue-part-1/ Tue, 29 May 2012 13:29:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/getting-involved-with-street-child/ Thursday and Friday work   Today I joined the social workers in the first stage of the process of finding street children who need help. The strategy has changed slightly from what has gone before, in that the plan is more street based than centre based. Previously, children had been brought to the centre and fed and given basic care, but this approach is being reconsidered because some parents were sending their kids to the centre to benefit from the help Street Child give. This new approach is a way of ensuring help is going to the most needy street children.   Stage 1: street mapping; Stage 2: go out to the streets and have first contact with the children, invite them to group sessions; Stage 3: bring the kids into groups at certain locations, talk with them, discuss with them their stories and their options, generally work with them on the street.   The process involves assessing their situation, health and history, locating their family then establishing their needs to reintegrate them into family and school. Street mapping involved walking in and around streets and locating the areas where the street children are more likely to hang out, including cinemas (shacks with a TV screen), nightclubs, vehicle parks and market stalls. We found some good places where the team can focus their attentions when they go out next week.   When we finished our touring I sat in under one of the shacks selling, in this case, generators, dvds and phones, as you do. The salesman chappy was very curious about the yellow water I was drinking (water with a vitamin C tablet dissolved in it), he had a little taste and in return gave me a taste of his lunch, cassava leaf with rice. Basically a leaf like spinach, mushed up and cooked with palm oil to make a sauce- quite tasty, not sure. There is a lot of oil in the food also. Many of the country staples including cassava leaf, potato leaf and groundnut soup contain palm oil, which does not sit too well in the beginning. Medication and rehydration sachets are a must.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/getting-involved-with-street-child/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/getting-involved-with-street-child/ Tue, 29 May 2012 11:07:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/good-morning-makeni/ Wednesday My first morning in Makeni...woken by the sound of cockerels, my first job, collecting water from the well and heaving back up to the house. There is something quite satisfying about getting water for yourself. My accommodation at the Street Child centre has everything I need, a bed with my mosquito net ingeniously put up. A good tip is not to leave anything lying around the floor because the humidity makes it damp, so my clothes are strewn around my room in various hanging places. I'm thankful for bringing some string to use as a washing line. My bathroom has a loo (no flush) and a hole in the ground, buckets are my friend! There is nothing more wonderful than a wash in cold water after wandering the streets. Spent the day familiarising myself with the area, a walk into town down the dusty streets. Few people bother you, the kids really are the only ones that shout 'Aporto' at you and all they want is a little wave. If someone is staring, just greet them, 'Cushay' or 'Ow de mornin'. My bearings are shaped by the main markers:  Safecon petrol station, Robarnay Road, Wussum field stadium, the cotton tree,  the mosque, the clubhouse, the clock tower (which incidentally is the greatest clock tower in Western Africa - wait till you see it!) the market - an experience in itself, the sundry for sale combined with the unbearable heat, the bustle of people and motorbikes passing, the senses are overwhelmed. There is much child labour, children wandering around with bowls on their heads selling morsels of indistinguishable foods. Children get picked up from all over and dropped off in Makeni very early in the morning and are charged with selling wares for the leader, markets are more active with children in the morning and the night. Child labour is also visible in the covered market  at the grinding machines. A child will 'rent' the grinding machine, which looks like a mincer, with this they can make ground nut paste or cassava leaf paste. He will grind all day in order to make enough to pay the commission to use the machine. If there is any money left then the kid has enough money to buy food. To give you an idea of the money the child might make, to grind a bunch of cassava leaves (which are enormous), the client pays Le500 (this is equal to about 7 pence), similarly for a cup of groundnut, this pays 3 pence. I had my first real experience of Sierra Leoneon food - Groundnut soup. This is a stew made from groundnut paste and spices, with some indistinguishable meat floating in it and rice. Delicious, but it is cooked in palm oil which is not to easy on the digestive system. My tum has been funny the past few days - it is hard to get used to the new diet, carb carb carb.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/good-morning-makeni/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/good-morning-makeni/ Mon, 28 May 2012 13:28:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/training-in-makeni/ Ben, his sister Sarah, Mark, another volunteer and I met up at 6.30 am in order to experience the conditions that we are to expect on the big day. We attempted the 5km route. Makeni, being further in land and not benefitting from coastal breeze, is more humid that Freetown! However it rained last night, so seemed relatively cooler. Nevertheless the sweat started beading within a few seconds of jogging on from Birch field, the air is thick with moisture which takes some getting used to when wanting to breathe.  The sight of us white people usually strikes some interest, so add to the mix a group of 5, 2 of the girls wearing short shorts, early morning, and jogging which is an unnecessary activity. The astonishment is clear, portrayed through the hollering of 'Aporto!', the chanting of the children and the cackling of the elders.   Recommendations: You have to watch where you are putting your feet, some parts of the road are pitted with puddles, many areas are rocky and generally uneven. Sweat band or head band of some kind - to soak up the incessant sweating!   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/training-in-makeni/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/training-in-makeni/ Mon, 28 May 2012 16:22:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-journey-up-to-makeni/ Mark and I took a taxi from BHC to the main transport hub for going north, the Shell garage East Freetown. Crossing from East to West was almost as long and arduous as going from Freetown to Makeni. Standstill traffic in the sweltering heat. I have had to embrace the sweat, it is totally unladylike but standards have clearly had to drop.   The hectic views through Freetown are a feast for the eyes, people selling things from bike tyres and sellotape to donuts and vache-qui-rit! Successfully delivered at Shell, we are herded into our transportation to Freetown. I'll give you a good price 17,000 and you get to sit in the front seat… ideal. There are already 5 people plus a baby in the back. So the one front seat was for both Mark and I, he had the joy of sitting on the handbrake while I hang out the window. I nearly flaked because the passenger door was kept together with a cleverly manoeuvred piece of wire, I kept a firm hold of the handle on the roof throughout the journey (approx 3 hours)!   Oh we didn't depart until there were 11 people, including baggage, in the 5 seater taxi. P.s. for those doing the marathon and have the travellers package, Transport from Freetown to Makeni will be organised and I can be (almost) certain you will get a seat each!   We met Lindsay and JMK from the Street Child team at Lunsar - so the last half hour of the trip in the 4x4 was lovely. Mark dropped off to get the first 100 hand crafted medals from the carpenter. I went onto the HANCi centre, where my arrival was somewhat unexpected. Mohammed, one of he boys who lives at the centre while studying economics and finance, helped me put up my mosquito net, clean up dust and cobwebs, fetch water from the well and generally settle in.   Met Marie, (a half Belgian Brit like me!) she talked me through how things go, what to expect and generally what I could get up to. My impression from Makeni… they are not going to know what hit them when 150+ runners turn up, the general milling around of "aportos" before and after the race! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-journey-up-to-makeni/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-journey-up-to-makeni/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:17:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-with-the-hash-club/ I went on my first run, through Freetown, with Nick, Ben and Mark, but this was not just any run! We joined a club called the House Harriers, or HASH, a drinking club with a running problem,  who have been going since 1987, mixing expats and Freetownians alike.   Now let your imagination take you -picture a group of 60 joggers, combine this with a Hansel and Gretel concept and a rugby team initiation ceremony, The 'Hares' are released 10 minutes before the rest of the group, who have to try and catch them, we follow of trail of paper shavings… be careful not to follow the wrong route - or the running up a steep Freetownian street will be wasted. We weaved in and out of hectic traffic, through peoples yards, hurdling chickens, rubbish, streams and sewers. It was one unbelievable way to see the real thing… eye opening and not allowing you to escape the fact that the poverty is rife and real.   Coming to the end of the race the rain starts to fall, welcome because the heat,  humidity, exertion, and the days sunburn had left me somewhat crimson . We convene in the courtyard where announcements and initiations begin, Led by the Grand Leader… each person wielding a Star beer 'no one ever tastes the same' in a large circle - call to the Hares, down drinks while we chant the ritual tune, then, a call to the virgins (1 st time Hash runners) - what's your name, why are you here, who made you come and are you available? Having answered those questions with cheers around the group - the 5 of us virgins down our beer to chanting.   Sound odd? In the rain, in the dark, in Freetown… we then sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot, with actions! A couple more beers some rice and chicken stew. Then realisation… what just happened!?   Tomorrow to Makeni... http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-with-the-hash-club/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/running-with-the-hash-club/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:15:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-ever-marathon!/ Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon and  Collective SL  volunteer Mark Maughan gets to work...   As soon as we arrived in Makeni, the real work started. The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will be Sierra Leone's first EVER marathon and will hopefully raise a lot of money for the Street Child of Sierra Leone charity.    As it is the first ever event of its kind, a lot of planning has gone into the KSLM. First of all designing the course route, which after driving around it I must say it is a challenge, but a spectacular one at that.   I am part of the events team, so my main role is to be the eyes and ears on the ground in Makeni, as I am the only one based here full-time. Therefore it is extremely important to build up good relationships with different contacts in order to:   a)    Make sure everyone co-operates efficiently b)   Ensure good communication between different authorities c)    Help me find my way around this maze!   One of the real benefits to this project is that I get to explore all around Makeni and meet some incredible people. From Chief Administrator of Makeni City Council Mr Daramy to Benjamin Kamara, our homestays organiser/guide, village chiefs including a relative whose name was quite simply T-Man to the big scary bloke in the army barracks Lieutenant Colonel AS Koroma (though I referred to him as Corona like the drink!)   Other tasks include helping to organise the pasta party, finding good musicians to play along the route, sorting through volunteers and officials, instructing the police, finding sponsors and getting as many Salonean runners as possible.   Whilst I have not had much involvement with the Craig Bellamy Foundation as of yet, I have attended a number of football games to show my support for the league, helping out with some coaching tips and even refereeing a game.   So as you can guess it's busy busy busy and no rest for the wicked!!!!!   You can read more of Mark Maughan's blog  here . http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-ever-marathon!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-first-ever-marathon!/ Tue, 01 May 2012 17:51:00 Emilie Walsh http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/first-runner-arrives-in-sierra-leone/ From Emilie Walsh, the first runner to arrive for the marathon!   I get the impression that nothing is text book and doesn't happen the same way twice but this is my experience of the surprisingly un-turbulent arrival in Freetown, Sierra Leone.   Landed on the tarmac with the inevitable clapping for the captain, which is always reassuring. The humidity then hits! Herded onto a bus and then driven 30 metres!   Enter the one room airport, hustled into queues to get your passport and visas checked by a stern guard, shuffle through the queue to get to baggage area - where you may get your yellow fever cert checked by a man in a white coat if he feels like it, another passport check and then await the baggage (stand where the baggage is going back out - there is a fan which aids the initial acclimatisation!). There are trolleys available, make sure you have your baggage tag - because they do check you are leaving with your own.   Then, the hustle and bustle of the guys trying to help you on your way. The subsequent bit of the journey went smoothly because I had Ben, our marathon director, on my flight. If you have the runners package, you will also have an aide - someone meeting you at the airport and helping you get tickets for the ferry/ water taxi ride. I took a water taxi, from Lungi to Aberdeen, it cost about £30, which includes a short mini bus trip to a beach where you wait for the Pelican boat, note - your luggage will probably get taken on a different bus but again you get luggage tags, which are checked at the other end, so no worries.   Then embarking the Pelican - my sea legs were put to good use in order to manage the pontoon made up of floating empty water barrels, embarked, donned a lifejacket and sped through the sunset to Aberdeen.  At the port, we were met by Nick, the marathon Event Director and Mark, a volunteer working on the marathon. Driven through the streets and traffic of Freetown and taken to the British High Commission where I have made the most of running water, a/c and showers.... http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/first-runner-arrives-in-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/first-runner-arrives-in-sierra-leone/ Wed, 23 May 2012 16:05:00 Ben Harvey http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-running!/ The next installment of the Lithuanian tale from runner Ben Harvey...     So the Running For Change team have completed their first official run on Saturday - the Vilnius half marathon. The team, represented on this day by Mindaugas, Tomas, Oleg & myself, wore the Kiln/Street Child t-shirts with pride. We wanted to raise as much awareness of our project as possible so we tactically spread ourselves throughout the field. This time we let Mindaugas cross the line first in 1 hour 34 mins, followed evenly spaced by Oleg, then Tomas, with myself coming in exactly 22 minutes later. As agreed.   Not really.   This was my first half marathon and according to my training plan it would be straightforward. Well, that's not the word that was foremost in my mind as I closed in on the finish. Having now run 21km in the 20 degree "heat" of Lithuania, the reality of the challenge that is running a full marathon in the oven of Sierra Leone has kicked in. About bloody time, my wife would say. But hang on, it's not about the run.   Ever since I started out on this adventure I've always said to anyone who would listen that this is about something bigger. My two dogs are sick of hearing about it on our walks. "Don't focus on the run", I'd say. It's just a run, not a race. A run in the sun. A fun run.    Raising money - now there's the challenge. This is a new model for Lithuania. It takes some explaining. And some faith!   We started collecting donations at the end of February, and, like my run on Saturday, got off to a flying start, followed by a steady jog, with a few wobbles and the occasional burst of unexpected speed. Unlike my run, we are still expecting a strong, sprint finish. We've had to register our own charity. We've created our team identity - Running For Change. And we can boast our own logo, website & facebook group.   But the legacy we really want, is to have funded the construction of one and ideally two schools in Sierra Leone. Schools that were "Made in Lithuania".   We've got some way to go.   We've appeared on radio & TV, and have had regular photos or articles in the press. Having our own local celebrity, Leo, in the team - the kind of celebrity your grandma would like - is a big help. As is Rytis, our World Championship silver medalist in Karate, and bodyguard to the Lithuanian President.   All our effort is paying off as many people have heard or read about our project. It's new, it's different, it's interesting. I'm proud of what we have already achieved. Next on the horizon is the Druskininkai (no, no spelling mistake) half marathon on 6 May. This time the full team will be running. We'll be staggering our finishes again.   www.runningforchange.lt   http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=RunningForChange2012&faId=179012&isTeam=true http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-running!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-running!/ Mon, 23 April 2012 18:14:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-37-43-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ #37 All proceeds from the marathon will go towards our work with street children, including the process of reunifying them with family members. Click  here  to read about the moment Mabinti met her Uncle and Aunt for the first time after having lived on the street for a year. #38 Brush up on your Premiership news and be prepared for some lively conversations about the latest matches #39 Share photos of your family, friends and hometown with an eager audience   #40 Whether you just want to finish in one piece or beat a personal best, taking part in this event will be a personal challenge that will only make you stronger (both mentally and physically!)   #41 Sample the local drink poyo (palm wine), tapped straight from the tree or...   #42 ...drink refreshing milk straight from the coconut #43 It costs only £1000 to build a basic school structure in Sierra Leone. If each runner raises atleast £1000, can you imagine how many schools we could build in some of the most isolated areas in the country? http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-37-43-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-37-43-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Fri, 13 April 2012 17:10:00 Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-saturday-march-31/ This was the first run we've had without 'adverse weather conditions' as the rail companies are wont to say when excusing a poor performance.  Clearly lots of people were at their own special training camps or sensibly tucked up in bed/noshing on bacon and eggs so I sat and waited in the cafe as 10.00 loomed, rueing the last glass of wine in the early hours. Fatima turned up pronto, raring to go however and off we went.   This became a half marathon training run and we walked or jogged slowly up the hills whilst forcing the pace a bit more on the flat.  Adhering to the rule of finding a rhythm that allows you to run and talk without being out of breath, hold a conversation we did, dodging the various runners and cyclists coming the other way.  By the time we came round to Richmond Gate and were in the final stretch we were still chatt   ing away. I felt well educated about Sierra Leone, Fatima's family having come from there and also knowledgeable in global brand marketing, her job. You learn something every day. Whether I imparted any knowledge at all is somewhat in doubt. It was a good session and should anyone wish to attend the next one on 6th May, please let me know.  Best wishes, Matt. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-saturday-march-31/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-saturday-march-31/ Mon, 09 April 2012 07:46:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-30-36-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ #30  Sample the food at Street Child's very own Clubhouse, Sierra Leone's most talked about bar/restaurant where you can get anything from a traditional African dish, to pizza, to Cordon Bleu! Find out more about the Clubhouse here . #31  Embrace gluttony without feeling guilty! After having burnt so many calories, imagine that post-marathon meal....   #32  Sample Star beer, brewed to somewhere between 4 - 7%, and keep your wits about you! #33  Celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in style on the 4   th  of June #34  Join the likes of Oprah, George Bush, Gordon Ramsay, Katie Holmes, and P.Diddy who have all run marathons in the past - although probably not in such an exciting place as this one!   #35  Enter a pub quiz where smart-phones can't spoil the fun. Click here to see photos from our last pub quiz!   #36  Shake a lot of hands with some of the most hospitable people in the world       http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-30-36-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-30-36-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Thu, 05 April 2012 15:29:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-23-29-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ #23     Witness some of the first ever schools to be built in Tambakha, an extremely poor and isolated region in Sierra Leone where thousands of children have no access to education. We've already built 12 basic schools in the region, you can see pictures  here .   #24     See Mother Nature's most spectacular lightening shows as the rainy season storms approach   #25     Be wowed by Street Child's talented beneficiaries in a friendly football match   #26     Run past Wussum Field, the only astro-turf pitch in the country!   #27     Running can help prevent heart disease, one of the leading causes of death, by lowering blood pressure levels and keeping arteries full functioning and the heart muscle strong.   #28     Hurdle sleeping dogs as you pass Makeni's laziest inhabitants   #29     Cross Sierra Leone's only functioning railway line twice, running from Makeni to Lungi. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-23-29-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-23-29-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Fri, 30 March 2012 09:28:00 100 Reasons http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-16-22-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ #16 Running can improve your sleeping habits! Several studies have shown that runners have a greatersleep efficiency, defined by the amount of time you are actually asleep compared with the amount of time you are lying in bed. So if you have insomnia or other sleep related habits, running in this marathon could be the solution you are looking for!   #17 What better excuse to take a week off work than to fly to one of Lonely Planet's Top 10 Travel Destinations and lie on a beautiful, deserted beach like this one   #18 Outside of the marathon you will have lots of free time to visit our project sites. Run a workshop, organise a football tournament, make a presentation - this is your chance to share your skills and knowledge!   #19 We hold regular Running Club sessions (the next one will be Saturday March 31st, click  here for more info) and Runners Events (sign up  here  to our newsletter for updates) so that participants can meet each other and prepare for the marathon together.  #20 Watch this  video  of Kelfa, our in-country director, welcoming you to visit his country and find out why he too thinks people should be running.   #21 You can fly direct from London to Sierra Leone in only 6 hours! For about the same amount of time it would take to drive from London to Edinburgh you can be on your way to the most exciting adventure of your life! #22 You'll only ever have one chance to run the first marathon  in Sierra Leone - and this is it. Register now to be a part of this wonderful country's history.   ___________________________   What are YOUR reasons for participating in this marathon? Leave a comment below or send an e-mail to marie@street-child.co.uk - and you'll get published on this blog! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-16-22-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/reasons-16-22-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Fri, 23 March 2012 15:31:00 Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-training-schedules/ I realise that half marathon runners have been neglected in terms of training schedules for which I apologise. Therefore please see the attached schedules for sub 2 hours and 'get you round' for first timers. The fundamental thing is to have fun (yes, it possible with running) and as such, lots of variety is built in and importantly, rest days too.    For those going for a sub 2  hours time (with this programme 1:45-1:50 is achievable) it is expected you're probably running fairly regularly and therefore this is a 10 week schedule which should be plenty of time. Click here to see a suggested schedule. For the first timers, a half is an exciting distance to get under your belt, particularly with the exotic bragging rights one in tropical Sierra Leone will give you (more than, say, Woking). Because of this, you'd better start this weekend and a 12 week program is designed for you. Click here to see the schedule. Everyone can build in lots of cross training and if you can stick to 85% of the training runs, you should nail your time or at least run comfortably whilst taking in the surroundings of the extraordinary country in which you'll be running, which is really the whole point. Should anyone want a 5km schedule, let me know. Best of luck for the training and please remember the next Sierra Leone Running Club run on Saturday 31st March. 10 miles for marathoners and 10km for half marathon entrants. Remember the drinks event on 20th March at Bar Soho [click  here  to find out all the information]  and I'll be on hand to discuss kit. Also, should anyone want to discuss additional training dates, particularly with a view to meeting more runners, we can arrange these. Otherwise please contact me and I can put you in touch with others, or possibly be free myself on an add hoc basis.  Best, Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-training-schedules/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-training-schedules/ Mon, 19 March 2012 10:26:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/reasons-9-15-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ #9     Just £40 a month helps us send a child to school for an entire year. Can you imagine how many children we will be able to send to school thanks to your fundraising efforts!   #10     Sierra Leone's beaches have been voted the best in Africa by Guardian readers. (Click here to see the article) You could be relaxing on them before the tourist groups arrive!   #11     As recently as December 2008, Sierra Leone was ranked by the UN as the least developed country in the world. Street Child's work to help the most vulnerable children into safe and secure homes and to improve access to education is helping to change that.   #12     Challenge the 'Blood Diamond' perception : Sierra Leone has been at peace since 2002 but the country cannot fully recover if it continues to be linked to violence and conflict. Visit Sierra Leone for yourself and tell the world just how safe, accessible and friendly it is!   #13     Running can improve your mental health! "Wondrous feel good hormones are released when we run, which include endorphins.These endorphins help us to control stress, give us the confidence we need and a certain sense of calm, and occasionally provide that sense of euphoria, known by many running people, as a runner's high." (Read more here )   #14     Street children are amongst the most misunderstood of vulnerable groups - often stereotyped as being violent uncooperative and unmotivated. But nothing could be further from the truth - just look at how far some of our children have come since they've stopped living on the street,  click here to read their stories. Help us change perceptions of street children!   #15     Develop your photography skills by entering our training photo competition. The best image sent to us of you training (based on original location and comedy value!) will win a fantastic prize. See what you are up against by clicking here.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/reasons-9-15-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2012/reasons-9-15-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Fri, 16 March 2012 14:39:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/reasons-2-8-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ As the countdown to the marathon continues, Street Child brings you another seven of our '100 Reasons to Support Sierra Leone's First Marathon':   #2:  Nearly 50,000 children are forced to rely upon the streets for their survival in Sierra Leone. By running across some of those very same streets, our participants have the chance to see exactly where the funds they raise will be spent.   #3: Is there any better way to impress your friends than by telling them you're running a marathon? Try telling them you're running one in Sierra Leone!   #4: Visit  www.tribewanted.com  to discover exactly why Sierra Leone has the potential to be one of the most beautiful places that you ever visit.   #5: In honour of the marathon, we're hoping to twin schools from across the UK with schools in Sierra Leone through the 50:50 project, a great way for young people from both countries to share their very different experiences.       #6: You have the chance to be one of the first people ever to run in a marathon in Sierra Leone. #7: Click  here  to read Adama's story and find out exactly where the money raised through participation in the marathon will be going. #8: Can't get a ticket to the Olympics? Come and exp erience another unique sporting event this summer instead!   Check back to read more reasons as the marathon draws closer!     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/reasons-2-8-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/reasons-2-8-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon/ Sat, 10 March 2012 11:53:00 100 Reasons http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/100-reasons-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon-!/ In honour of  it being 100 days until the start of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathonm, we're launching an ongoing countdown today called '100 Reasons to Support Sierra Leone's First Marathon' .   Updated weekly for now, with more regular updates as the event draws closer, this list gives runners of the marathon and supporters of Street Child of Sierra Leone a regular insight into where their fund-raising efforts are making a real difference, along with other fun and facts and updates on the race itself and life in Sierra Leone.   Check back to read more reasons as the marathon draws closer!   Reason #1 of 100: 100% of the funds raised for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon will go to Street Child of Sierra Leone. Since its launch in 2008, the charity has changed the lives of more than 1,000 street children, who are now living back at home and receiving full-time education; the funds that our runners raise will help do the same for a targeted 1,000 street children in 2012 alone.         http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/100-reasons-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon-!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/100-reasons-to-support-sierra-leones-first-marathon-!/ Thu, 01 March 2012 16:57:00 Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-sunday-march-4/ To all future marathon runners (or those who just want to get fit!),    This Sunday 4 March  is the second session of the Street Child Running Club.   Future sessions will be: - Saturday 31 March  - Sunday 6 May    These sessions will start at  10:00AM from the Roehampton Gate cafe in Richmond Park.  See:   http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond_park/facilities.cfm .   This session will cover a 7.5 mile lap with an increase in distance every subsequent run, culminating in approx 20 miles on May 6 th .    The pace will not be frenetic but based on approximately a 4 hour marathon. After each run we hope people can stay around afterwards for bacon sandwiches, a coffee and a chat. This will be an opportunity to discuss the marathon, Sierra Leone, the charity and life in general and perhaps arrange other training sessions in between the monthly runs.   We would be grateful if you could let us know whether you will be attending each run the week before just so we have an idea of numbers and don't start without anyone if we can help it. Please RSVP to matt.pain1@hotmail.co.uk.   There will be a stand in place with a Street Child banner which will show where we are starting. We will do our best to arrange a half marathon training run as well on each of these dates; this just depends on the amount of people available to lead a group.   So, we look forward to seeing you on Sunday March 4 or any of the other runs. Please remember there are also the marathon schedules on the website from sub 3hrs to 'get you round'. Enjoy!   Best wishes,   Matt http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-sunday-march-4/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/street-child-running-club-sunday-march-4/ Tue, 28 February 2012 18:30:00 Marie Loeb http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/its-official-75-runners-(and-counting)-have-signed-up-to-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ We are proud to announce that 75 runners have completed their registration to the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon and will be participating in this groundbreaking event on June 9 in benefit of Street Child of Sierra Leone .   To read the full press release, click here .   Thank you to everyone taking part!     Fancy a challenge and contributing to improving the lives of thousands of street children in Sierra Leone?     There are still places left so do not hesitate to register or get in touch with any questions/concerns you may have.    This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!   info@street-child.co.uk http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/its-official-75-runners-(and-counting)-have-signed-up-to-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/its-official-75-runners-(and-counting)-have-signed-up-to-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ Mon, 27 February 2012 16:23:00 Bart van der Vliet http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/why-i-am-taking-my-family-to-sierra-leone/ In June 2012 I will be taking my wife and two young children to a country which, not so long ago, was one of the most dangerous places on earth.   You may wonder why I would do this; to which the answer would be, to watch me run a half marathon, of course!   Some of our participants have already begun their marathon training in Makeni!   The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is the first ever marathon race in Sierra Leone, organised by a small UK charity, Street Child of Sierra Leone (Street Child).   When we talk to prospective runners about the marathon and where it will take place, one of the first questions we often get is: Is it safe ? People generally have heard of Sierra Leone and not for positive reasons:civil war, child soldiers, blood diamonds, amputees, the list of negative aspects goes on…   It's unfortunate that, 10 years after this bloody civil war ended, Sierra Leone is still struggling to dispel the image that seems to be imprinted in the mind of most westerners.      Not what you would typically think of when someone says Sierra Leone...     I have travelled regularly to Sierra Leone but I will never forget my first trip, less than two year ago. I had a strong emotional reaction to the reality of life at the edge of human existence, and the very need that people have for basic stuff: clean water, basic health care and education.   I was very impressed by the incredible passion of the social workers at HANCi , our local partner organisation. As well as  the positive attitude and determination of the people, the love the kids have for going to school.   I loved the wonderful simplicity of life; for example the way people treat nature, as a place of dwelling rather than just another resource for economic growth. I realized: There are a lot of things that can be improved in Sierra Leone, and there are things we can learn from Africans, things that we may have slightly wrong in the western world.   I remember so well the first trip to Tambakha, a place so remote, so poor, so completely different, and yet with so much potential. If only kids would learn basic literacy, numeracy and English. Consequently, Tambakha is the region where Street Child in the last 18 months have built 15 schools, and are supporting more than 2000 children in education.   One of the schools Street Child have helped establish in the region of Tambakha   Sierra Leone is a safe place to travel. Sure, the transport network is not great, health care provisions are basic and one would need to take vaccinations for most tropical diseases. But I have found the people in Sierra Leone very friendly, positively curious of westerners, and not at all pushy. In all my trips I have never been harassed, and haveneverencountered any violence or aggression.   I am so confident in Sierra Leone as a safe place to travel that I am going to take my family there in June. My children are very excited! They have heard so many of my stories that they are ready to check the place out for themselves.   So the first week of June we will be spending a family holiday in Sierra Leone. I am very much looking forward to taking my wife and children to this place I have talked so much about and to see their reaction to the country. My kids have seen a bit of the world (last year we spent a family holiday in Jamaica), but they will find a very different world out in Sierra Leone. Of course, it will be difficult for them to see the extreme poverty, but I think they will realise (probably better than adults) the beauty and simplicity of the place. Alec (10 years old) is very much looking forward to playing football with the boys and Rosie (almost 8 years old) can't wait to help out at one of the street child centres and give the kids presents she will bring from the UK. We will be visiting the centres, definitely go to visit the newly built schools in the region of Tambakha, and hopefully we will spend some time on one of the manybeaches. Oh those beaches! For good reasons they are considered the best beaches of Africa. Oh and of course, I will be running in the first ever (half) marathon of Sierra Leone!   I am confident that at Street Child we have started something truly amazing. Something huge. Something that you can be a part of! Come and join us for the visit of a lifetime. Run the marathon, half marathon or 5K in Sierra Leone and raise money for our projects. Come and see for yourself!   Bart van der Vliet   See here for some more information about safety in Sierra Leone :   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/why-i-am-taking-my-family-to-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/why-i-am-taking-my-family-to-sierra-leone/ Wed, 15 February 2012 13:19:00 Nick Piggott http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/help-us-organise-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ Want to volunteer your time to organise a ground-breaking event? Want to take part in a good cause that will benefit thousands of street children?   Then we may just have the perfect opportunity for you! The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon events (marathon, half marathon, and 5km run) will take place on the 9th of June 2012, and are the grand finale for Street child's year of Jubilee fundraising.  The events will start and end in Makeni, next to Street Child's original centres. The role will be crucial to supporting the marathon team in the planning and delivery of these events. Responsibilities : Ensuring all local stakeholders are kept informed of developments, and reporting concerns to the marathon team Finding and developing stories of press interest, and reporting them to the SL and UK press teams Acting as a point of contact for local suppliers and sponsors supporting the event Heavily involved in recruiting, co-ordinating, and delivering teams of volunteers on race day Assisting the marathon team in co-ordinating travel and accommodation arrangements for visiting runners Managing post-event logistics and volunteers Fully involved in monitoring and evaluating the event throughout build-up and delivery   Requirements : Essential Excellent verbal and written communication skills Excellent inter-personal skills, and an ability to work under challenging circumstances Ability to work well as part of a cross-cultural team Strong organisational / administrative skills Experience of taking part in marathon or ½ marathon events Desirable Experience of working on sports events Experience of large-scale travel planning / logistics Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers First Aid certificate Strong customer service experience   Please contact Nick Piggott: nick@street-child.co.uk     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/help-us-organise-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/help-us-organise-the-first-ever-marathon-in-makeni,-sierra-leone!/ Tue, 07 February 2012 13:12:00 Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/a-report-from-how-first-kiln-running-club-session!/ Kiln Marathon Running Club   1 st Run, 5 th Feb   Perfect weather for the first training run. Sitting in a pub in Battersea on Saturday afternoon looking at the snow falling outside, I wondered if this would severely affect the number of runners willing to show up the next day. England had just breached Fortress Murrayfield as well so celebrations might wreck even the best intentions. Sometime later I made it back to Richmond where there was a couple of inches of snow covering everything already. This could indeed make it tricky, with or without the post-Saturday night blues.   Sunday morning arrived and I slid the car out of my road and up to Richmond Gate near the park. Here I encountered my first problem, the road to the Roehampton Gate Cafe was closed. I had to settle for the only open car park at Pembroke Lodge, which was on opposite side of where I needed to be, and run down. It was clear that it was going to be impossible for anyone to drive to the starting point, and therefore unlikely any brave souls would be waiting there, shivering. However, we said this would be the first run and so on I went ploughing through the new snow, dodging the odd snowball from children delighted to have a target. Jonny had managed to cycle from Battersea and we decided to have a coffee and wait to see if anyone would turn up. Unsurprisingly, they didn't but we went for a run anyway, deciding on a cross country route and getting into a steady rhythm. The snow absorbed all our noise and we continued across the landscape which was numbed into silence save for the birds wheeling in the treetops. On we slogged for an hour and twenty minutes, up to the Royal Ballet School and beyond, near Kingston Gate and back, doing a looping figure eight. The lack of cars was a real pleasure and there were quite a few runners enjoying the quiet and solitude, and we nodded to each other companionably.     By the time we got back to the Roehampton Gate Cafe the traffic had started up again, the roads now cleared, and we fought  for a table as one always does at the weekend. There was a real 'ski cafeteria' feel to the place though and a good atmosphere. We got talking to a Somali chap called Adhuhulow who lost a leg to a gunshot wound and was now a 'Bladerunner', with a running shoe sole attached to a curved Kevlar prosthetic. He couldn't get enough traction on the snow so had stopped for a coffee. He was training for a number of marathon and was hoping to run 555 miles in Rwanda to raise money inside the country for educational projects. We asked him to consider coming to Sierra Leone and he is keen on the idea but may need sponsorship to get there. Considering his incredible story, we would be very lucky to get him involved and hope that he makes it!       So, it was an eventful first run, even if numbers were limited. Still, plenty of time until June and we hope the weather will be more considerate next time. If you have any questions about the next run on 4 th March or training in general, please feel free to contact me. We should  be aiming at  approx. 10-13 miles next time but can advise a shorter distance or route in the park for those looking to build up to the half marathon in June. The key is to pop down and meet for a coffee, get to meet people and talk the event through.   Hopefully, more to report next time!   Matt: matt.pain1@hotmail.co.uk http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/a-report-from-how-first-kiln-running-club-session!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/a-report-from-how-first-kiln-running-club-session!/ Mon, 06 February 2012 10:42:00 Bart van der Vliet http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/heres-why-running-a-marathon-in-sierra-leone-isnt-as-crazy-as-it-sounds/ Why should you participate in the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon?   "Sierra Leone celebrates 50 years of independence from the UK this year. How can we use this fact in fund raising?" That's the question that, about a year ago from now, led to what we now know as the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon .   A small UK charity organizing their own marathon? In a country without a running culture and where there has never been a marathon race before? Most people thought we were crazy. And our colleagues in Sierra Leone were thoroughly confused. A bunch of 'Aportos' ( white people ) running through the streets of Makeni and the villages of Bombali district? A 26 mile running race? But why?   Why this marathon? And why should you participate?  Let me try answer these questions...   In short; because you will be taking part in a ground-breaking event in support of some amazing work AND because it's going to be an adventure that you'll never forget!   Sierra Leone is a very poor country.   Walking around in Freetown or indeed anywhere else in the country, you do see extreme poverty and human misery. Thousands of children still live and sleep on the streets in the cities, and many more, living in rural Sierra Leone, have no opportunity to go to school because their communities don't have the resources to build schools, buy materials or train teachers. It's a country still hurting from a terrible civil war, desperate to move on.   Street Child  is determined to support the children living and sleeping in the streets as well as the children living in rural, isolated villages all over the country who have no access to education. To date we have reunited more than 1000 street children with their families and put them into school. We have also supported 3000 school children in rural areas.   When you raise funds for Street Child you will be directly supporting these children of Sierra Leone .       Sierra Leone is an exciting place to be now.   Only a few years ago this was the poorest country in the world. Now, whilst still in the bottom ten, growth in 2012 is estimated by the IMF at over 50% . Whilst traveling in Sierra Leone, you can feel the excitement, see the development and hear the determination. You can truly sense that this is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.   Street Child is determined to ensure that the children of Sierra Leone directly benefit from this economic growth. That's why we have started developing commercial activities with all profits going straight back into street child projects and school-building programmes . The dream is that one day our commercial activities will fund the charitable activities and our money won't be needed anymore. Some may say this is unrealistic, but as Walt Disney once said: it is kind of fun to do the impossible!   When you travel with us to Sierra Leone in June, you will have the possibility to visit the street child centres and schools, meet the children and families that directly benefit from your fundraising, and to enjoy the Clubhouse Bar, the most successful Street Child commercial venture to date and THE place to be in Makeni. We've even managed to convince one of Freetown's best chefs to work there!   Join us!   In my work with Street Child I have met the most inspiring people, had the greatest sense of achievement and experienced the most wonderful feeling of purpose.     In my trips to Sierra Leone over the last two years, I have fallen in love with the country and its people.   Come and join us for the adventure of a lifetime and you will see what I mean!   Bart van der Vliet (@BvdV)   The people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/heres-why-running-a-marathon-in-sierra-leone-isnt-as-crazy-as-it-sounds/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/heres-why-running-a-marathon-in-sierra-leone-isnt-as-crazy-as-it-sounds/ Fri, 03 February 2012 10:02:00 Matt Pain http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/kslm-running-club-starting-sunday-5-feb-!/ To all future marathon runners (or those who just want to get fit!),    There will be 4 official training runs for the Sierra Leone marathon from February to May:  - 5 Feb  - 4 March  - 31 March  - 6 May    These sessions will start at 10:00AM from the Roehampton Gate cafe in Richmond Park. See:  http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond_park/facilities.cfm .   The first one will be a 7.5 mile lap with an increase in distance every subsequent run, culminating in approx 20 miles on May 6 th .    The pace will not be frenetic but based on approximately a 4 hour marathon. After each run we hope people can stay around afterwards for bacon sandwiches, a coffee and a chat. This will be an opportunity to discuss the marathon, Sierra Leone, the charity and life in general and perhaps arrange other training sessions in between the monthly runs.   We would be grateful if you could let us know whether you will be attending each run the week before just so we have an idea of numbers and don't start without anyone if we can help it. Please RSVP to matt.pain1@hotmail.co.uk.   There will be a stand in place with a Street Child banner which will show where we are starting. We will do our best to arrange a half marathon training run as well on each of these dates; this just depends on the amount of people available to lead a group.   So, we look forward to seeing you on Feb 5 th or any of the other runs. Please remember there are also the marathon schedules on the website from sub 3hrs to 'get you round'. Enjoy!   Best wishes,   Matt   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/kslm-running-club-starting-sunday-5-feb-!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/kslm-running-club-starting-sunday-5-feb-!/ Tue, 31 January 2012 10:46:00 Ben Harvey http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-coming!/ A Guest Blog from Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon Runner Ben Harvey in Vilnius.   "It didn't take much for Bart to convince me when we met in London last year. To be honest, I'd already made up my mind. A chance to see a part of West Africa. Supporting a charity doing great work for children. I was hooked. I wasn't thinking too much about the run. Why spoil the feeling?   My name is Ben, and Bart is one of the team running SCoSL in London. I'd been following Bart's own journey firstly in Sierra Leone, and then once he'd committed his time to work with the charity, with admiration. Of course, I wouldn't say that to his face.   I am a Brit who for the last 15 years has been living in Vilnius, Lithuania. So as I fly back to my wife and daughter I'm thinking: how am I going to raise any money? I'm not questioning the generosity of the Lithuanian people, but a British guy asking people to give money to Sierra Leone children felt like a hard sell. A harder one was convincing my wife that I'd come back from this in one piece. Work in progress.   The other challenge I faced was this model of fund-raising, i.e. sponsoring someone to run a marathon, parachute out a plane, grow a moustache. As far as I and my friends are aware, it's untested here in Lithuania. I need to explain this model. How it works. And that it's not going to fund my beer in the Clubhouse in Makeni.   So then I decided I should try to create a team. A Lithuanian Team. One with an identity that might appeal to people. If only I could find 2 more people - then I could call it a team.   My first victim was Mindaugas. He's a runner. He ran the Warsaw marathon last autumn. This will be easy! When I saw him on his return from Poland, I wasn't put off by the words "never again". "It's not about the run", I said, "it's much bigger than that." I planted the seed and he was the first to commit.   Next was Tomas. I'd mentioned the project over a lunch and hoped he would take the bait. Sure enough, after weeks of silence. I get the call. No questions. Just, "I'm in."   The magic of Facebook. Mindaugas writes a post about his 'crazy decision'. Then up pops Rytis. In India. Tell me more, Rytis says. Then, "I'm in".   Leo had heard about the story. He called to check - "this is crazy right?" Yes, I said. Leo replied: "Ok, good, I'm in."   Then there's Oleg. He made me wait. Right up until the end of December after he'd returned from a transatlantic voyage from Lanzarote to Antigua. He'd said: "Let me think about it, I may come back a different person after this voyage". As soon as he got back, he called me. "Ben, it's urgent! Register me!"   So today we are a team of six. We've got the t-shirts and tomorrow we pay for our flights. Non-refundable. There's no turning back.   Over the next few weeks and months I'll introduce you to each of the guys some more and let you know how we're doing with our training and fund-raising. I can honestly say that with this bunch of guys I have high hopes for an amazing adventure. It's already started.   As I look out of my window now and watch the snow continue to fall. I check the outside thermometer. Minus 5C. This really is crazy. But then, it's not about the run."       http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-coming!/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/guest-blog/the-lithuanians-are-coming!/ Thu, 19 January 2012 17:05:00 Tammie Howden http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tammie-howden/hi-there/ Hi, my name is Tammie and I am an Underwriting Assistant and I have worked at Kiln for the past four years and am lucky enough to be able to help celebrate Kiln's 50 years of success.    I am excited about the KSLM because it is the first ever marathon in Sierra Leone and it is for a really good charity.    It will also be a huge personal challenge for me & a good story to tell the grandchildren one day.   I hope that as a company and a market we will be able to go over and above our £50,000 pledge, this in itself will be a challenge but it is one worth fighting for!   To get my marathon training started I have recently been going on little runs but after Christmas I will really step up the mileage and put some hours in…   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tammie-howden/hi-there/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tammie-howden/hi-there/ Mon, 05 December 2011 00:00:00 Ben McGeown http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/my-new-rugged,-outdoorsy-look/ So, following the level of (friendly?) abuse I received for my initial profile picture I've decided to take a leaf out of my colleague Simon Bianco's book and get a picture up that has more of a 'rugged, outdoorsy' feel to it, as opposed to one that suggests I'm suffering from trapped wind (thank you to the individual who pointed this out....).   The picture was taken whilst completing the Kindrochit Quadrathlon , a brilliant event that takes place every year in the Scottish Highlands and is a must for anyone who enjoys swimming in freezing lochs. Whilst that took over 13 hours to complete I would have to say that running a marathon still ranks as the hardest physical challenge I've ever completed.   Back in 2009 I ran the Dublin Marathon and I can honestly say that the sense of achievement at the finishing line after all the training is the best I've ever experienced, though it did come at a cost. My training schedule was fairly relaxed with minimal mileage but the longer runs still managed to have the effect of highlighting every fault in my body's biomechanics.     A month before the race I experienced severe inflammation of my IT band, which runs along the side of your leg from your hip down to your knee. Apparently a slight difference in the length between my right and left legs had created a build-up of tension in the muscles on one side of my legs. The result was that I couldn't run at all for the month before the race, which may actually have been a blessing in disguise, preventing as it did any any temptation to over-train in those weeks when you need to be tapering off your training.     On the day itself I managed to make it round thanks to a combination of a programme of stretching given to me by a physio and a couple of painkillers but I've experienced problems ever since. This did make me realise that a) its not natural for your body to run 26 miles and b) if you are going to do it you need to make sure you do all the extras (like having a comprehensive stretching programme) that will stop your body from falling apart during the training.     I would definitely recommend seeing a physio with any strains you might pick up in training, as nipping it in the bud early doors will save you from doing the long-term damage that can put the kibosh on your running career. In keeping with this I've been trying to sort out my dodgy quads/calves over the Xmas period with the idea of starting training in January, however this plan has been kicked into touch thanks to a dead leg I picked up playing football which has left me struggling with walking let alone jogging.     Hopefully I'll be able to get out soon though, especially as I've got a load of new running clobber that is crying out for a bit of public exposure, none more so than a set of figure-hugging running leggings - real crowd pleasers on the streets of South London...   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/my-new-rugged,-outdoorsy-look/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/my-new-rugged,-outdoorsy-look/ Tue, 17 January 2012 13:24:00 Ben McGeown http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/chance-to-run-too-good-to-turn-down/ Hi, for anyone that doesn't know me my name is Ben McGeown and I work in the Binding Authorities Group team here at Kiln.     Over the next couple of months I'll be posting updates on how my preparation for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is going.  I'll do my best to give you an idea not only of what I'll be doing to get myself physically ready to run 26 miles, from the rigours of the training to the diet, but also the kind of stuff that I'll be doing to raise money for Street Child.     Having run a marathon before (albeit in the slightly less tropical environs of Dublin...) I've got a fair idea of the amount of work that lies ahead though I'm not quite sure how I'll be able to replicate the weather conditions we're likely to be dealing with on race day (25 degrees plus celsius and a casual 70% humidity) in my training schedule!   The weather will obviously be a big factor as will getting myself ready to run at the scheduled 6am start (can't see myself trying that out in training too often!!) but I think the chance to run the first ever official marathon in a country like Sierra Leone is, to coin a phrase, 'too good to turn down'.     It seems like quite a few other people feel the same way as the initial response within Kiln seems to be pretty enthusiastic, though whether that stretches through to people making it to the start line in June may be another matter!   Hopefully we'll be able to take a large contingent out to Sierra Leone http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/chance-to-run-too-good-to-turn-down/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-mcgeown/chance-to-run-too-good-to-turn-down/ Mon, 05 December 2011 17:34:00 Simon Bianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/running-in-zambia/   I've just got back from 10 days in Zambia with my friend Chi visiting his family in Lusaka and Livingstone. An incredible trip. Such hospitality, great food, friendliness, a matabeto , the Vic Falls, the Zambezi.   With the marathon so close, I obviously had to do a lot of running while out there, which was stunning. My longest was 20 miles (hard at altitude and in the heat - good preparation!) in the outskirts of Lusaka, past embassies, schools, malls, shacks, waving kids, workers in trucks, acacias and blue skies, until the tarmac ran out and was replaced by a dusty orange road with lots of pot holes.   This will be my last blog piece before going to Sierra Leone. Thank you all so much for your sponsorship and support in my preparation for this event and in raising money for such a good cause. The organisation from Street Child and within Kiln has been so consummate that the only preoccupation for all us runners has been the training, which is a great position to be in. Thanks too to Rachael for her Gu fundraising, and to George for accompanying me on a fantastic run along the Thames from Westminster to Hampton Court.   Any further donations will be very gratefully received and will make a huge impact in improving the lives of deeply impoverished and disadvantaged children. I'd love to raise another £500 which will successfully fund one child's movement from life on the street to life back at home.   In order to donate, please go to: www.justgiving.com/SimonBianco   Many thanks again,    Simon   Please click on the images below to view a slideshow of my visit to Zambia.    http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/running-in-zambia/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/running-in-zambia/ Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 Simon Bianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/on-generosity,-charity,-races-and-bristol/ Generosity My JustGiving page has been set up since my last blog and the generosity and alacrity of people's sponsorship has been quite overwhelming. In just the first week, your donations raised £1,000, and the total figure is now up to £2,000. I cannot thank you all enough for your kindness.  It is of course especially gratefully received when the sterling work of Street Child means that this money has such an impact on people's lives. When the construction of a basic school costs £1,000, a month's provision of essential medical care for 250 children costs £500, and £40 sends a child to school for a whole year, your sponsorship really is going to a fantastic cause in a country where the need is very great indeed.   Your generosity has also been a great help to me when training.  I'm not sure if this is normal but I often get quite emotional on runs after about 10 miles - perhaps this is my Italian blood coming to the surface, but I like to think of it as a passionate Lawrence Dallaglio moment (...I'm going to get ridiculed for writing that!) Anyway, your sponsorship is very motivating and it means a lot to me, so thank you.     Charity Above is a video clip which I emailed around touting for further sponsorship in exchange for my very deep embarrassment.  In the clip I don't think that I mention 'charity' once - but I promise that I did in the interview as a whole but those bits didn't make the cut!   Charity is obviously on my mind more than usual as I'm training for the marathon, but also because I am seeing the need for it more frequently as I run around London's parks and streets. I am ashamed to say that recently I passed a man sitting at a garden table in a park face down in his own vomit. As I approached he lifted his head slightly to moan, and so, knowing he was alive, thinking someone else might help, and not wanting to break my running stride, I carried on past him and didn't do a thing. Which just isn't good enough.   I think that a lot of Londoners are very unsure about what to do when a beggar asks them for money on the street. There's immediately the argument that they might be addicted to drugs or drink and so it would be better not to fund their habit and run the risk of doing more harm than good. Others might argue that it's up to them what they spend the money on and it's better not to penalise those who will genuinely spend the money on food and shelter.   A very good friend of mine who is an extremely good person buys a sandwich for homeless people who ask him for help and takes them for a coffee. My brother is part of a charity committee of friends from uni who raise a lot of money for charity by putting on fantastic parties, and they also volunteer at The Passage soup kitchen in Victoria which does very good work.    Through Kiln's participation I have more direct experience of the Whitechapel shelter  which is run by a tireless and endlessly jolly couple.  What really impresses me about them is their practical approach to the problems of the homeless - as well as offering breakfast, showers and fresh clothes, they offer assistance with finding accommodation, obtaining birth certificates, referrals to drug/alcohol programmes, providing an address for post, IT skills, legal issues, writing CVs and applying for jobs.   It is extremely sad to see a number of homeless people at the shelter from Eastern European countries who, by the way they divide their food and the few practical possessions on their person, have a real demeanour of resourcefulness, education and nobility. It must be truly awful to emigrate as a skilled worker with hopes of making more money to send back to your family, just at the wrong time economically, which leaves you stranded. Whitechapel has a volunteer programme to enable getting involved and helping these people, and to support a very practical charity.   Street Child's operations are similarly impressive for their practical nature. And the challenges they face are of course in one of the most deprived countries in the world rather than one of the most developed. It must be hard to know where to begin helping a child who has lost his/her family during the civil war, has been driven onto the street to survive, perhaps into prostitution, has no prospects or education, receives regular beatings and lives in fear, and has to resort to petty crime to get by.   Street Child's response of providing counselling and medical care, reuniting children with their families and getting them back into education is supplemented by its work on sustainability, which involves establishing commercial ventures such as bars and restaurants to provide employment, and by contracting local carpenters for the building of schools to boost the local economy. For me, this approach goes beyond just providing aid; it aims to create more enduring and empowering solutions.   Races and Bristol If anybody's still reading, I'll update you quickly on my running!  I've entered a couple of races which I was told would be good practice, and they've proved useful and good fun. The first race was 10km around Bushy Park, which is right next to my parents' house and a route I've run hundreds of times before. It was pretty exciting to race amongst 500 people on home turf, amazing to have my family supporting me, and very useful to learn to swallow my pride when a feather-light whippet / wraith glides past me effortlessly and not to try immediately to catch them / cover tackle them, but to run at my own pace. Extremely chuffed that I came 13 th and ran it in 41 minutes.   The next race was the Hastings half marathon on a gloriously sunny day along the sea and through the very pretty Old Town. There were 5,000 runners, something I hadn't experienced before, and the support of the crowd was incredible with live bands, marching bag pipers and lots of families (again including my own) en route.  It was a tremendous event but no-one told me before signing up that the first 5 miles were uphill and seriously tough. Bloody knackered but pleased with my run: 321 st in 1 hour 36 minutes.   My confidence from these 2 races has been dented somewhat since however: as my longer distance runs are now lasting more than 2 hours, I'm suffering from boredom, exhaustion, slower times (now not sure I'll be able to achieve my aim of sub-4 hours), and hunger. Indeed, the money I'm saving on boozing less I'm now spending on obscene amounts of food. And stash. I'm sure I don't need all my new kit but my iPhone app has been playing up unfortunately and so I've bought a new Garmin watch which tells me my speed and distance via satellites, as well as my heart rate.  It's absolutely amazing.   To stave off boredom, I've started going for runs further afield for a change of scene. Today I started in Cliftonwood Crescent in Bristol, ran around a lot of old university haunts (God, it's a fantastic place), very nostalgic, past the York Cafe which is now a snazzy-looking Italian restaurant, and then to Bath. 18 miles in total, along the old railway line with disused platforms occasionally either side, lots of very green bits, a great trip. I then ate a large quarter pounder meal, an extra milkshake, 9 nuggets, a sugar donut, and 1kg of Galaxy chocolate.    My next blog will be from on holiday in Zambia - the start of my training on the continent!   https://www.justgiving.com/SimonBianco   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/on-generosity,-charity,-races-and-bristol/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/on-generosity,-charity,-races-and-bristol/ Tue, 10 April 2012 16:19:00 Simon Bianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/london-training-montage/   Pheidippides is supposed to have died after running the 25 miles from the Battle of Marathon to Athens, but thankfully I haven't found training quite as arduous.    I have had a schedule drawn up for me by a friend who is an ex Para, general superhero, and runner of several marathons, so I should be well prepared. I'm using the Runkeeper app on my iPhone which is very clever for measuring distances, and I've been recommended to set my pace according to my heart rate rather than speed.   Training in this way is very different to the pre-season fitness runs I used to do for rugby.  Instead of pelting along as fast as I can listening to the Prodigy, I'm trying to learn the discipline of running at a set heart rate - which seems quite slow but I'm going further. My musical accompaniment has therefore changed accordingly to nu-jazz/Latin/funk dj Quantic  and incredible sax on  Jimmy McGriff . For the heart rate monitor to work effectively however I'm recognising there may be a need to shave my chest like Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice! By the canal near Camden   London is a fantastic place to run. For 6 mile roundtrip runs I've been going from work along the river past Westminster and the Houses of Parliament at night, or I've been going from home around Hyde Park, past the crowds at Speakers Corner, Kiwis in fancy dress on Waitangi Day, the stunning Albert Memorial, and screaming teenage girls watching a new boy band's photo shoot in front of the statue of Achilles. For an extra couple of miles I've added on Green Park and St. James's Park, past Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade.   I've also been running from Notting Hill along the canal, past Little Venice, past the huge houses in St. John's Wood which look like they should be on the Palatine, past London Zoo in the driving rain (so I didn't see any animals), past the Thai food stalls and hordes of people in Camden lock, then to Angel and back, which is 11 miles in total.   Any recommendations for other spectacular runs would be gratefully received.      https://www.justgiving.com/SimonBianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/london-training-montage/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/london-training-montage/ Mon, 20 February 2012 10:01:00 Simon Bianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/reality-check/ So.  I've just looked at my training programme for the first time, and only now that I'm typing the schedule into my calendar have I really realised how much there is to do. Most evenings it seems, every weekend, huge distances. And I'm not sure I even really like running. I've never run for much more than an hour before because I get bored.    Just as well it's for a good cause then! I went to the Street Child press launch just before Christmas and heard about the foundation of the charity (i) as a reaction to Sierra Leone being named the most deprived country in the world in 2008, and (ii) as a reaction to the use of child soldiers - indeed Makeni was an RUF stronghold during the civil war, and it is where Street Child has its largest operation and where the marathon is taking place.   There were people of extraordinary energy at the press launch - one guy I met was both a journalist and the founder of a charity who ran 15 marathons last year.   I hadn't given much thought  about how meeting these sorts of people will give the race yet another dimension and make it a fascinating event. It also indicated how important training will be to ensure I don't get lapped!   Actually, I do quite like running. I'm looking forward to it.   https://www.justgiving.com/SimonBianco   Starting training in Mallorca http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/reality-check/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/reality-check/ Thu, 26 January 2012 10:58:00 Simon Bianco http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/getting-into-my-stride/ Hi, my name is Simon Bianco and I'm training to be an Energy Underwriter at Kiln.   I've never written a blog before, run a marathon, or been to Sierra Leone - so now is as good a time as any to start all three!   I'm hoping that I'll get into my stride for both the writing and the running when I start training after Christmas, but at the moment I'm mainly just very excited about the prospect of seeing the country for myself and raising money for a fantastic cause.   Having studied Sierra Leone as a case study at university with regards to its devastating civil war and subsequent efforts for international development, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to support Street Child, whose work tackles such major issues as poverty, education, and economic sustainability.    What incredible motivation - even if it is for preparing to run long distance at dawn in a tropical climate! With the combination of visiting Street Child's projects in Makeni, it will be an extraordinary experience that I hope as many people as possible sign up for and encourage with their donations.    Updates about endorphin highs and exhaustion lows to come!   https://www.justgiving.com/SimonBianco   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/getting-into-my-stride/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/simon-bianco/getting-into-my-stride/ Mon, 05 December 2011 11:11:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/the-final-countdown/ No, not that 80s' anthem that you are now humming in your head, it's the final countdown to the Sierra Leone Marathon! Less than one month away and it seems to be approaching very quickly!   All the runners from Kiln have been doing their big runs and getting the long miles in the bank. My longest was over the bank holiday weekend when Charlotte and I braved the fields and hills of Caterham and the surrounding area, to try and make our 20 mile target run scenic, interesting and also to practice a little for the off road running in Sierra Leone.  Well to be honest, the conditions were absolutely nothing like those we are going to encounter over there.   Firstly it was cool and drizzled constantly and secondly, the trails through the woods and fields were so sodden and muddy that for about 8 miles, the focus was on not falling face first into huge muddy puddles! The final few miles had us encountering lots of hills, including one that went on up for about one and a half miles. But determined and focused, we battled on and achieved a little under 20 miles. Fortunately, the route in Sierra Leone is flat and dry, so in some aspects a little easier, there's still the heat to be accounted for. England has unfortunately not given us any opportunities to run in the heat at all this year, so it looks as though we'll have to acclimatise quickly when we arrive! I had a little hamstring pull which had been niggling, so I had my first ever sports massage.  My prior experiences of massages had been relaxing rubs to ease muscles. Well, a sports massage is not at all relaxing. Painful and sore! I actually ended up with bruising as a result of it! But it seemed to help with the issue, so I'm not going to complain!  Another piece of preparation has been organising and receiving the travel jabs that are required. Luckily injections don't bother me too much, so the couple I have had so far haven't been too much of a hassle. There's a couple more to have, then the malaria tablets to collect and start taking just before we leave. I've also had an absolute nightmare with my passport which went missing in the post! Despite secure delivery it has somehow gone astray, so an emergency trip to the Immigration and Passport office has been required to get a new one ordered. Once that arrives, I then have to still squeeze in a getting my Visa for Sierra Leone sorted!  All this in the next weeks.   So all in all, a tense final few weeks getting ready to go! We had a visit at the Kiln offices from a few of the girls from the SCOSL charity to talk us through what to expect when we get there, and give us more insight into the wonderful things that charity does and what parts of the charity work we'll get to see when we get there. It looks amazing, and I really can't wait to go now, despite all the hurdles to overcome in the next couple of weeks. I know that it'll all be worth it when we get there! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/the-final-countdown/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/the-final-countdown/ Mon, 21 May 2012 14:22:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/motivated-by-kiln-colleagues/ So with 89 (yikes 89!!!) days to go and the flights booked, the training for running this first ever marathon in Sierra Leone has intensified! As a novice marathon runner I was pretty blasé about the training, but I'm beginning to understand how much of a commitment to my time this is, and actually how much hard work this is going to be! I've had a lot of help with my training through the joint runs that a group of us have been doing at lunchtime. It's really good as it includes some people who actually aren't coming to Sierra Leone, but who just fancy a lunchtime run outside instead of being stuck inside the gym. So far we've done runs to Westminster and back (5.7miles) , and to Canary Wharf and back (6.5m). This has been really good in a number of ways; 1) Motivation - it'd be too easy to think." I can't be bothered to run today", but once the email has gone around to the group I'm then committed to going. It's also (almost) fun running with a group of people too! 2) Bonding - spending time with the other runners and chatting (while huffing and puffing through 6 miles) about how we are doing and what runs we have planned and just generally getting to know each other a bit more. It almost makes running fun! 3) Improvement - I must admit, the first run I did with the lunchtime gang almost killed me as they run faster than I've been used to! But after the first week of running together I found it easier, and now on 6 mile runs I've improved my average speed by about 40 seconds a mile! I'm pretty pleased with that!! 4) Benchmarking - finding out where others are on with their training and how far their longer runs have been to see if I'm where I should be. I still think my training is to plan and I'm increasing my distance week on week as I should, but some of the others have already been running 14 and 15 miles in one go!! But all in all, the past few weeks have been good in relation to getting miles under my belt. Each week is going to get tougher now, but the lunchtime team have a plan for a good run one evening in early April - putting together the two lunchtime runs - City to Canary Wharf to City to Westminster to City (12.2m) - after work one evening followed by a celebratory and well deserved beer and curry! I've scheduled the majority of my longer runs into my weekends, generally on the Saturday, and so far my longest run is 10.4 miles. That was this week where I had set myself a goal on the Monday of running 26.2miles in a week. Having only(!!) done 5.7 and 6.5 miles in the week and telling my twitter followers and fellow Kiln runners that it was my target, I had no choice but to go for it! As you can imagine I was very pleased with myself afterwards. However, big toe wasn't as happy so have been out to the local sport shop and invested in some proper running socks and blister plasters! Those 26.2 miles last week were a goal that I managed to achieve, but those 26.2m were over 4 runs across the space of a week... putting it all together and doing it in one go in Sierra Leone is a completely different ball game. It's a challenge I'm most definitely up for and I'm working hard to make sure I achieve it. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/motivated-by-kiln-colleagues/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/motivated-by-kiln-colleagues/ Thu, 15 March 2012 16:17:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/please-watch-short-video-of-me-being-interviewed/ Please take a few moments to watch this film of me being interviewed about my involvement in the marathon. In the film I talk about my training and what I plan to do when I am in Sierra Leone.   Since filming this, I have decided to run the full marathon, rather than the half that I talk about as I felt that to run a half marathon wasn't challenging enough, and as I'm going such a long way, I might as well go for the full distance!      Watch other  videos about the marathon . http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/please-watch-short-video-of-me-being-interviewed/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/please-watch-short-video-of-me-being-interviewed/ Wed, 29 February 2012 00:00:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/plans-in-place/ The time seems to be flying by now, and the training and fund-raising planning is underway. I have a regular training partner, Charlotte, who is also doing the Kiln Sierra Marathon, and we have been working hard to motivate each other and getting a few runs under our belts.   The recent cold snap and snow did put a little dent in our outside running, but we used the time instead to do some interval training and leg strength work inside in the gym.   It's great having another person to run with, we have pushed each other when one of us doesn't feel like putting in the miles or feels like skipping the gym. Having trained so well together so far, and motivating each other, we have decided that we are actually going to run the whole marathon together.   Some people have suggested that we shouldn't as you should run your own race, but the challenge of doing this race I think needs motivation all the way round. It's unlike the big marathons like London, New York, Berlin etc, as I don't think we'll have hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering us on!! Also, neither of us have ever run 26 miles, so it's a complete unknown to us both.   So we have to prepare….   To help us out, I have downloaded a 16 week training plan which should take us from the level of fitness that we currently are at to the level we need to be to run the marathon. There are 3 runs in the plan during the week, to a maximum of 80 minutes, and then the weekend long run. That's a challenge, to fit in the time and increase the distance week in week out.  But having a plan to work to will help us.   The Kiln group that are running are also going to do some group runs at lunchtime. It's quite a bonding experience for us all.    It's lucky that we work so close to the river, as it's quite a nice thing to do at lunchtime, run along the Thames and back to Westminster, and as the weather gets nicer (hopefully!) it'll be a much more pleasant run. We are going to look for places outside of London to run for the longer weekend run, as variety is key to keeping the training interesting.   Also, the Just Giving site is now live and my page is here: http://www.justgiving.com/sam-arrowsmith . So the plans to start the fund-raising are underway too…... I have a few ideas which I'm looking into, and again, with other runners from the Kiln contingent we have a plan of a local event we want to hold to raise some cash. Every penny counts!! I also continue to tweet on my  @KilnSamRuns account, and will use social media to continue to raise the profile of the run and the fundraising.   It's going to be a busy few months!! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/plans-in-place/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/plans-in-place/ Mon, 27 February 2012 00:00:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/much-excitement-in-the-office/ There has been much excitement within the office about the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon. I have had people I wouldn't expect consider taking part as they also think that it is a wonderful opportunity to do something so amazing and challenging for an extremely good cause.   Having a number of people around me who will also be taking part is very good for motivation as we've been discussing the ways in which we can help each other to train. There's talk of doing some big group lunchtime running sessions together which will be good for moral when it starts to get really tough and on those days when going for a run is that last thing you really want to do!   My training has started in earnest now that Christmas is over. I have a training partner, Charlotte, who is also doing the marathon, and we have been out running a number of times at lunchtimes increasing the distance each time. Some days it's been easier than others.   This week however, the weather wasn't on our side when we completed a longer run over to the other side of the Thames and back. As we ran over Tower Bridge in freezing rain, the wind whipped up so badly that I was slightly concerned that I was going to be blown off the bridge into the river! However, we battled on and ran a new route up to Southwark Park and back in a steady pace and felt very pleased with ourselves for achieving it despite the horrible conditions.   But the feeling of achievement that we felt on finishing that run will be nothing like sense of achievement we'll have on the day we cross the finish line in Sierra Leone. All the hard work, pain, tired limbs, blisters and sore feet between now and then will be worth it! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/much-excitement-in-the-office/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/much-excitement-in-the-office/ Tue, 10 January 2012 10:08:00 Sam Arrowsmith http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/heading-to-sierra-leone-for-three-reasons/ I joined Kiln almost 10 years ago as a PA to the IT Director and have progressed through the company in a number of roles, and currently and happily hold the position of Divisional Manager for the Property and Special Lines team.     I am looking forward to heading to Sierra Leone for three reasons; to challenge myself to run in the marathon and raise money for Street Child; to visit some of the projects that Street Child have set up and are supporting; and to visit the country and see for myself what a beautiful part of Africa it is.   I'll be preparing for the run in a number of ways. The first is to hit the streets! I'm not a keen fan of the treadmill - I much prefer running outside and running to somewhere, rather than running in one place. I often use running to explore areas, I moved house 6 months ago, and there are many roads and routes that I've not checked out yet, so running gives me a chance to do this. I'm able to run at lunchtimes too, so I'm planning on heading along the Thames sometimes and do a bit of sightseeing on the way!   My second preparation is to mentally prepare myself. I'm a believer that a positive attitude means you can achieve whatever you want to achieve. I know that when I have a long run ahead of me, if I haven't told myself that I'm doing it and make myself believe I can do it, I'll end up struggling and not enjoying it. I'd much rather enjoy a run, so focusing on being positive is a huge must.   In addition to those main two things, the others are to get some decent playlists made up! When I'm out running on my own the right music with the right beat makes such a difference! I'll just have to be careful to make sure that I don't sing along….! I'm also planning to join up with the other people within Kiln who are running in Sierra Leone, and get a few regular times booked in to go out running together. This will be a great way to provide support and motivation for each other.   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/heading-to-sierra-leone-for-three-reasons/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/sam-arrowsmith/heading-to-sierra-leone-for-three-reasons/ Mon, 05 December 2011 12:41:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-3-the-cure-for-fankeh-and-finalising-the-route/ A short while after we arrived at the 'Patient Compound' (see part 2), Mr Madingo suddenly offered, through the interpreter, to show me how his treatment for 'Fankeh' works. I was told nothing beforehand about what the patient, a woman in her late forties, was suffering from. I later discovered that she had been diagnosed with malaria by two conventional hospitals. She had taken anti-malaria drugs but they appeared not to have worked. Out of desperation, she had come to Mr Madingo (she lived in Makeni) and had spent 2 days awaiting treatment at the compound. She had already had certain herbal remedies applied to her skin which, she said, had made her feel slightly better.  With a crowd of other patients and me all watching, the woman was ushered onto a small mat and asked to remove her blouse. A paste based on crushed mango leaves was then applied to her chest, back and neck by one of Mr Madingo's three assistants. Mr Madingo, dressed in an oversized polo shirt and baseball cap, removed his chunky gold watch and handed it to an assistant before pouring oil onto his hands and rubbing them together. He spread the oil liberally over the woman's face, breasts and belly. "He's going to shock it [the Fankeh] out of her body," explained my interpreter. The procedure was far from solemn, with Mr Madingo frequently chortling to himself as he worked his fingers hard into the woman's flesh. The 'Fankeh' appeared to be lodged at the top of the woman's rib cage, and Mr Madingo lifted her breast to get better access to the spot. He prodded and probed harder and harder with his fingers and thumb, eliciting bigger and bigger grimaces from his patient. Eventually, with a flick of this wrist, he sent a shower of small stones flying down on to the mat. I counted perhaps a dozen. Mr Madingo wasn't finished, though. He started a new, even deeper and evidently more painful, attack on the woman's rib cage, this time on her right flank, until he eventually brought forth a few more tiny stones.  The assistant sprayed oil onto the area Mr Madingo had been rubbing. "It's to cure her blood," my interpreter said. Mr Madingo then paused for thought, wagging his finger reflectively. "It's been in her body a long time," he said. He sent another assistant to fetch medicine while he carried out a final check of the woman's shoulder and neck. He kneaded away for some time, chuckling to himself once more and apparently telling the woman to relax. Finally, he flicked his wrist for the final time and a single stone tumbled onto the mat. Her ordeal now over, the woman was handed a plastic beaker of viscous green liquid to drink.  One of the assistants collected all of the stones in one corner of the mat. There were perhaps 15 or 20 in all. My interpreter asked her some questions about the previous (conventional) treatment that she had had. All the while she ran her fingers over the no doubt very tender areas from which the 'Fankeh' had been released by Mr Madingo. It was a strange experience, needless to say. Sceptical though I was, I had to admire Mr Madingo's apparent sleight of hand. Or his supernatural abiliities, as the case may be. Almost as strange was explaining to Mr Madingo my own mission. Like the villagers of Mankay, he was sceptical that people would willingly run 26 miles for fun, but he was very happy for the marathon to pass by the compound. As I left, I couldn't help smiling to myself at the thought of Mr Madingo treating a cramped runner by the side of the trail to remove the 'Fankeh' from his or her legs. Over the following two days, Mohamed and I refined the remainder of the route (which is provisional and subject to change if any engineering works are scheduled in the future). It is predominantly along tar roads, including a two kilometre stretch along the main highway into Makeni. The home straight passes Street Child's proprietary bar, the Clubhouse, which will no doubt host the marathon after-party, as well as passing by Makeni's mosque, market and stadium. All in all, the course is about 70% trail run and 30% tar roads. It's stunning (especially the crossing of the Mabol river) and, as my Madingo experience shows, is liable to provide some fairly memorable moments. An aerial view of the course (which you need to open using Google Earth) is downloadable from the  marathon website   - although the images are taken some years ago in the dry season so aren't quite representative of what you'd see on the day. But do think about signing up for the run next year. You won't forget it in a hurry! In the meantime, a huge thank you to Mohamed for putting up with three consecutive early starts and for all his patience, driving me around in circles under the thrall of the GPS.     http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-3-the-cure-for-fankeh-and-finalising-the-route/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-3-the-cure-for-fankeh-and-finalising-the-route/ Wed, 22 February 2012 11:41:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-2-learning-about-black-magic-at-the-patient-compound/ The road west from Konsho is occasionally muddy and a bit rocky in places but was an absolute joy to run along. This stretch turned out exactly as I had hoped - passing through farmland and the small communities that cultivated rice and palm oil on it. It also showcases the depressing amount of deforestation that has taken place over the centuries; like so many other countries, Sierra Leone has over-exploited its tropical forests for timber. But even despite this, it is a gloriously green and fertile-looking place.   There was one stream on this stretch that wasn't bridged (but easily could be) and was too wide to avoid getting wet feet. Some local kids on their way to school watched with great amusement as I spent a couple of minutes sizing up the possibility of jumping it before finally resigning myself to damp shoes for the rest of the morning. Mohamed rode ahead of me on the bike, stopping each time he came to a village to enquire its name so that I could tap it into the GPS. First up was the village of Makai - a few dozen huts at a road junction. Families were gathered in front of their homes as cooking pots bubbled on fires. Adults looked at me with bemusement; children with excitement. I continued on towards the village of Mankay. This stretch of road was the narrowest and most overgrown so far, but also the busiest in terms of human and vehicle traffic. By busy, I mean a few groups of women carrying fruit or cassava leaves in plastic bowls on their heads and the very occasional motorbike. In fact, in an hour of running, I saw perhaps 2 dozen people on the road between the villages, and 3 or 4 motorbikes. "Apato [white man], good morning" was a common refrain. One motorcyclist asked what I was doing (fair question!) and then suggested that I fix up the road to make the race easier. The people of Mankay were very enthusiastic about the marathon and keen for the route to pass through the village. I promised to return to talk to the community about what this would involve. All three days of exploration were hugely enjoyable, but this first day was special in that it was the only time I had time to try out part of the route on foot. The occasional and very brief shower of tepid rain helped cool me, but as the morning humidity rose, I started to sweat properly. I decided to take a short rest west of Mankay when we reached the site of a huge railway cutting for the African Minerals line. About 3km further on from the rail cutting, Mohamed was waiting for me in another small village, with one family home on the left hand side of the road, and what appeared to be a farming complex on the right. A few people were milling around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I asked Mohamed to check the name of the village with one of the locals, who told us it was called "Patient Compound". Not so much a village, then, as a traditional healing centre. Things got really interesting when one of the patients introduced himself as "Jimmy" and began to tell me more about the treatment at the compound. He produced a small plastic bag of what looked like fine gravel and poured it into the palm of his hand. He said that the stones were a sample of what the healer had recently removed from his body. I was intrigued and asked him to explain further. What followed was one of the strangest experiences of my life. Jimmy launched into a lengthy explanation of the black magic phenomenon of "Fankeh". I suppose the best translation of Fankeh is "curse". According to Jimmy, a Fankeh is imparted to its "host" either at the hands of, or at the request of, someone who wishes that person ill. It can be imparted either by physical contact (a hand on the shoulder or a brush of the arm, for example) or using a 'witch gun'. A witch gun is an invisible weapon, resembling a conventional gun, that fires 'witch bullets' such as the stones that Jimmy had showed me. A third method of having someone afflicted with Fankeh is to take a photograph of the intended victim, or an article of their clothing to the witch doctor who can then do the business remotely. Alternatively, Fankeh can be imparted by having a witch doctor plant it in the ground or on a chair that you know the victim is likely to step or sit on. In any case, Fankeh can only be imparted by a person who has the hereditary gift of black magic. In short, if you have the gift, or know someone who does, it's not that hard to arrange for someone to be afflicted. The victim will not immediately be aware that the Fankeh has been implanted into his or her body. Over time, Fankeh can cause poor health (either localised pain, or a more serious condition), bad luck (such as reduced job prospects due to favouritism of others), losing money, the freezing of bank accounts, and business failures. In fact, there are seemingly very few variants of ill fortune that can't be attributed to Fankeh. Curiously, a practitioner of black magic can, much like a Jedi, choose to use their powers for good or ill. Removing Fankeh is the preserve of witch doctors who have inherited the gift of seeing and being able to diffuse Fankeh. It's not cheap, though: removal of a Fankeh can cost up to 600,000 Leones (about £90 or a month's wages for an average professional person in Sierra Leone). Those same witch doctors can, again for a substantial fee, make you Fankeh-proof - giving you a kind of shield to ward it off. I wondered whether it was more lucrative to be an agent of the "dark side", or a healer' or whether there were witch doctors who made money both ways. For those who are already afflicted, traditional healers ('good' witch doctors) can locate Fankeh within your body, and remove it through manipulations. Certain herbal preparations are also necessary to cleanse the skin and so to allow the Fankeh to pass through it. It was this procedure that Jimmy had recently undergone. He introduced me to the resident healer in the "Patient Compound", whose nickname was "Madingo". Through the translations of another patient-in-waiting, a young man in his early twenties who happened to be an English language student, I discovered that Mr Madingo had started out as a civil servant before becoming disillusioned with the lack of progress in Sierra Leone. He had changed career, becoming a farmer, before giving this up, again as a result of disillusionment. Finally, he had made use of his hereditary gifts and become a healer, practising from the Patient Compound, to which some people travelled from hundreds of miles away for treatment.       Read Part 3 for the rest of the story! http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-2-learning-about-black-magic-at-the-patient-compound/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-2-learning-about-black-magic-at-the-patient-compound/ Tue, 21 February 2012 17:32:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-1-mud,-motorcycles-and-lycra/ For weeks after my arrival I'd been looking forward to exploring the backstreets of Makeni, Sierra Leone and the surrounding countryside to come up with a 42km course for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 2012. I was the envy of my running club in Durban: "You get to make up your own marathon course?!". That's right. But even before I arrived in Makeni (my second visit there), I knew that planning and plotting the course was going to be a challenge. All my attempts to obtain a detailed map of the area had failed, and online mapping was very limited. Without a map it's obviously quite difficult to record where you've been on your various explorations and, just as importantly, how far you've travelled. To solve this, I invested in a brilliant Garmin GPS - the everything-proof 62s - which turned out to be a great decision. I had three days in which to come up with the course. But I wanted to do as much of it as possible at the same time of day as the race would actually be run - starting at dawn. My tattered large-scale tourist map of Sierra Leone had given me a very rough idea of some roads that might be interesting and scenic to use. First up, I needed to measure them, check their suitability for runners and support vehicles, and map the positions of any villages the race would pass through. My guide and co route-planner, Mohamed Conteh and I set off on his motorbike from HANCI's headquarters in Makeni at 6.30 am. It was dawn, and the temperature was comfortable, probably in the low twenties, and not too humid. The streets of Makeni were still relatively quiet, but still much busier than you'd expect from a European city at that time of day. We headed down the Kabala highway, past African Minerals' huge camp, and on to Panlap Junction, all good paved roads. At Panlap there are checkpoints if you want to proceed towards Kabala or, as in our case, if you want to turn left towards Kamakwie. The police at the checkpoint looked somewhat bemused by the sight of me in full lycra running gear and Camelbak, but dropped their barrier of string without asking any questions. Now on a mud road, we cruised (and occasionally bounced) north towards Kamakwie. A few kilometres from Panlap, we crossed the half-built railway that will eventually carry iron ore from African Minerals' huge new mine in Tonkolili, to the east, all the way to Pepel on the coast - a huge terracotta-coloured carpet unrolled through the forest. We continued north as far as the village of Konsho. Here, there is the ruin of a church and a recently dedicated memorial to various missionaries who died there between 1894 and 1918, perhaps from malaria. Two of the missionaries named on the memorial were aged 3 and 5. The church was the marker for a left turn down another road, now heading west. Having never been down this road before, I decided that it was a good time to get off the bike and test out the terrain on foot. By that time, now roughly 7.30am, the temperature was starting to rise. But I was looking forward to giving my new trail shoes an outing, and my legs a good stretch (I had spent the whole of the previous week in the back of the a 4x4 exploring various Street Child projects all over the country). Not many people run for fun in Sierra Leone - or even walk for fun. With the rising cost (and often scarcity) of fuel there, people travel on foot just as much as ever. So I was fairly sure that the sight of a foreigner jogging along rural roads would elicit some surprised looks from the locals.   But I couldn't have imagined what I would stumble across on the way.....   Read Part 2 to find out .... http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-1-mud,-motorcycles-and-lycra/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-route-part-1-mud,-motorcycles-and-lycra/ Tue, 21 February 2012 17:17:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/policemen,-soliders,-ministers,-paramount-chiefs-marketing-the-marathon-in-makeni/ One of the nice things, but also one of the challenging things, about organising an endurance running event in Sierra Leone is that the country has almost no culture of long distance running. Sierra Leone's athletics pedigree is  slim to say the least  and although the country's footballing achievements are not much more impressive,  a near miss in qualifying for this year's the African Cup of Nations  aside, the beautiful game is the unrivalled sport of choice for Sierra Leoneans. The only football that I've watched there so far was a  fiercely contested match  (complete with dubious penalty awarded for handball, subsequently scored with an assist from a spectator!) between two sets of schoolgirls in the remote Tambakha chiefdom. Even a game like this was testament to how seriously football is taken.     Returning to Makeni in November 2011 on a mission to raise the local profile of the marathon (and to design the half marathon course - see photo), my default assumption was that none of the various officials that I hoped to meet would have heard of the marathon format. As it turned out, most of them had, even if the idea of hosting one locally was a complete novelty, just as meeting Paramount Chiefs and army officers was for me. But then almost everything is a novelty when you're organising a marathon in Sierra Leone.   One of the joys of "lobbying" in Sierra Leone is the ease with which one can gain access to people in position of authority. Almost everyone, from Ministers to mayors to police chiefs, operates an open-door policy that frequently left me wondering how they find the time to get any work done. The charming Samuel Willams, local representative of the Ministry of Youth Employment and Sport (an unusual ministerial portfolio, perhaps), was no exception. Despite arriving without an appointment, I was immediately ushered into his office.  Serendipitously, Mr Williams was in the middle of a meeting with many of his Ministry colleagues and, somewhat incongruously, the manager of the Sierra Leone women's' national football team.  Whatever agenda they had been discussing was immediately shelved once I had pitched the marathon to them and a goldmine of good suggestions began to flow. Except from the poor women's football coach, who had nothing to say on the matter but sat stoically through an hour or so of debate.   Mr Williams also informed me that there was a to be a second marathon in northern Sierra Leone, in October 2012. It may be unusual for a charity to take the lead in organising a marathon, as Street Child is doing for the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, but the organiser of the race in October was even more out of left field: the Sierra Leone Political Parties Registration Commission were apparently at the helm of this one!   Next stop, and slightly more trepidatious, was Teko Army Barracks. The guard at the gate raised both eyebrows as I arrived on a motorbike, accompanied by John Momodu Kargbo, regional co-ordinator for HANCi (Street Child's Sierra Leonean partner organisation), and asked to see the commanding officer. But after a moment's thought, he waved us through to the administrative area of the barracks. There we found a typically Sierra Leonean scene: a meeting taking place in the shade of a huge mango tree. The Brigade Commander, Major Lavahun, quickly wrapped up the meeting, and John and I pitched the marathon concept to him. We came away with a commitment to provide vehicles, an ambulance, security personnel and, perhaps to the future regret of many of his men, a promise to enter a representative army team into the marathon.   I made equally successful visits to the local police station and branch of the Red Cross.  Everywhere I went, it seemed, I was pushing at open doors so far as securing messages of support and pledges of personnel and equipment were concerned. My final visit, to the home of Paramount Chief Kasangha II, went some way to explaining why.   The role of traditional rulers in Sierra Leone takes a bit of explaining. You can read more about it here .   PC Kasangha was away when John and I called at his home. In his absence, however, he leaves his deputy, Chief Benbella, to meet visitors and to be his mouthpiece. Chief Benbella received us in what I can only describe as PC Kasangha's chamber. At one end of the room were three throne-style chairs. The central chair was the tallest, with the name "Kasangha II" carved into the backplate and a cushioned footrest attached. To the left of it was a lower, but well-cushioned wooden chair and, to the right, another chair of darker wood and the familiar logo "EIIR". It was on this chair, presumably presented to PC Kasangha or his predecessor sometime between 1952 and 1961 (2011 was the 50 th  anniversary of Sierra Leone's independence from Britain), that Chief Benbella sat, suitably elevated. He thanked us for visiting and pledged both his and PC Kasangha's full support. This support went without saying, he explained, because both he and PC Kasangha were well aware of the excellent work done by HANCi and Street Child in Makeni and further afield, and would do everything they could to further HANCi's cause.   I realised that HANCi's reputation had already done much of my work for me I could probably have pitched the idea of organising the world's biggest egg and spoon race (maybe next year) in Makeni, and still have received the same level of interest and support.     To thank the stakeholders for their time and good wishes, the brilliant Street Child team in Makeni helped me organise a lunch for them at the Clubhouse, Street Child's proprietary bar-restaurant (see photo). The attendance was great and, as I'd hoped, discussions around the table generated a long list of suggestions for the event itself.   Street Child is determined that the people of Makeni and its surrounding communities will have a significant stake in the marathon. To that end, there are many more stakeholders to meet in the coming months - the roads authority, taxi drivers union, market traders' association, and the chiefs of all the many villages and communities around the marathon course, to name just a few. But if they're half as welcoming and enthusiastic as everyone I've met so far, it's going to be fun.       http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/policemen,-soliders,-ministers,-paramount-chiefs-marketing-the-marathon-in-makeni/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/policemen,-soliders,-ministers,-paramount-chiefs-marketing-the-marathon-in-makeni/ Thu, 26 January 2012 12:56:00 Ben Hodgson http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-course/ Race Director Ben Hodgson's account of exploring the race route   in Makeni - 29 June 2011 For weeks I'd been looking forward to exploring the backstreets of Makeni and the surrounding countryside to come up with a 42km course for the Sierra Leone Marathon 2012. I was the envy of my running club in Durban: "You get to make up your own marathon course?!"  But even before I arrived in Makeni (my second visit there), I knew that planning and plotting the course was going to be a challenge. All my attempts to obtain a detailed map of the area had failed, and online mapping was very limited. Without a map, it's obviously quite difficult to record where you've been on your various explorations and, just as importantly, how far you've travelled. To solve this, I invested in a brilliant Garmin GPS - the everything-proof 62s - which turned out to be a great decision. I had three days in which to come up with the course. But I wanted to do as much of it as possible at the same time of day as the race would actually be run - starting at dawn. My tattered large-scale tourist map of Sierra Leone had given me a very rough idea of some roads that might be interesting and scenic to use. First up, I needed to measure them, check their suitability for runners and support vehicles, and map the positions of any villages the race would pass through. Motorbike My guide and co route-planner, Mohamed Conteh and I set off on his motorbike from HANCI's headquarters in Makeni at 6.30 am. It was dawn, and the temperature was comfortable, probably in the low twenties, and not too humid. The streets of Makeni were still relatively quiet, but still much busier than you'd expect from a European city at that time of day.  We headed down the Kabala highway, past African Minerals' huge camp, and on to Panlap Junction, all good paved road. At Panlap there are checkpoints if you want to proceed towards Kabala or, as in our case, if you want to turn left towards Kamakwie. The police at the checkpoint looked somewhat bemused by the sight of me in full running gear and Camelbak, but dropped their barrier of string without asking any questions.  Now on a mud road, we cruised (and occasionally bounced) north towards Kamakwie. A few kilometres from Panlap, we crossed the half-built railway that will eventually carry iron ore from African Minerals' huge new mine in Tonkolili, to the east, all the way to Pepel on the coast - a huge terracotta-coloured carpet unrolled through the forest.   We continued north as far as the village of Konsho. Here, there is the ruin of a church and a recently dedicated memorial to various missionaries who died there between 1894 and 1918, perhaps from malaria. Two of the missionaries named on the memorial were aged 3 and 5.  The church was the marker for a left turn down another road, now heading west.  Having never been down this road before, I decided that it was a good time to get off the bike and test out the terrain on foot.  By that time, at about 7.30am, the temperature was starting to rise. But I was looking forward to giving my new trail shoes an outing, and my legs a good stretch (I had spent the whole of the previous week in the back of the a 4x4 exploring various SCOSL projects all over the country). Not many people run for fun in Sierra Leone. Or even walk for fun. With the rising cost (and often scarcity) of fuel there, people travel on foot just as much as ever. So I was fairly sure that going the sight of a foreigner jogging along rural roads would elicit some surprised looks from the locals. But I couldn't have imagined what I would stumble across on the way. Deforestation The road west from Konsho is occasionally muddy and a bit rocky in places but was an absolute joy to run along. This stretch turned out exactly as I had hoped - passing through farmland and the small communities that cultivated rice and palm oil on it. It also showcases the depressing amount of deforestation that has taken place over the centuries: like so many other countries, Sierra Leone has over-exploited its tropical forests for timber. But even despite this, it is a gloriously green and fertile-looking place.  There was one stream on this stretch that wasn't bridged (but easily could be) and was too wide to avoid getting wet feet. Some local kids on their way to school watched with great amusement as I spent a couple of minutes sizing up the possibility of jumping it before finally resigning myself to damp shoes for the rest of the morning.  Mohamed rode ahead of me on the bike, stopping each time he came to a village to enquire its name so that I could tap it into the GPS. First up was the village of Makai - a few dozen huts at a road junction.  Families were gathered in front of their homes as cooking pots bubbled on fires. Adults looked at me with bemusement; children with excitement. I continued on towards the village of Mankay. This stretch of road was the narrowest and most overgrown so far, but also the busiest so far in terms of human and vehicle traffic. By busy, I mean a few groups of women carrying fruit or cassava leaves in plastic bowls on their heads and the very occasional motorbike. In fact, in an hour of running, I saw perhaps 2 dozen people on the road between the villages, and 3 or 4 motorbikes. "Apato [white man], good morning" was a common refrain. One motorcyclist asked what I was doing (fair question!) and then suggested that I fix up the road to make the race easier. The people of Mankay were very enthusiastic about the marathon and keen for the route to pass through the village. I promised to return to talk to the community about what this would involve. All three days of exploration were hugely enjoyable, but this first day was special in that it was the only time I had time to try out part of the route on foot.  The occasional very brief and shower of tepid rain helped cool me, but as the morning humidity rose, I start to sweat properly. I decided to take a short breather west of Mankay when we reached the site of a huge railway cutting for the African Minerals line.  About 3km further on from the rail cutting, Mohamed was waiting for me in what appeared to be another small village, with one family home on the left hand side of the road, and what appeared to be a farming complex on the right. A few people were milling around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I asked Mohamed to check the name of the village with one of the locals, who told us it was called "Patient Compound".  Not so much a village, then, as a traditional healing centre. Intrigued Things got really interesting when one of the patients introduced himself as "Jimmy" and began to tell me more about the treatment at the compound. He produced a small plastic bag of what looked like fine gravel and poured it into the palm of his hand. He said that the stones were a sample of what the healer had recently removed from his body. I was intrigued and asked him to explain further. What followed was one of the strangest experiences of my life. Jimmy launched into a lengthy explanation of the black magic phenomenon of "Fankeh".  I suppose the best translation of Fankeh is "curse". According to Jimmy, a Fankeh is imparted to its "host" either at the hands of, or at the request of, someone who wishes that person ill. It can be imparted either by physical contact (a hand on the shoulder or a brush of the arm, for example) or using a 'witch gun'. A witch gun is an invisible weapon, resembling a conventional gun, that fires 'witch bullets' such as the stones that Jimmy had showed me.  A third method of having someone afflicted with Fankeh is to take a photograph of the intended victim, or an article of their clothing  to the witch doctor who can then do the business remotely. Alternatively, Fankeh can be imparted by having a witch doctor plant it in the ground or on a chair that you know the victim is likely to step or sit on. In any case, Fankeh can only be imparted by a person who has the hereditary gift of black magic. In short, if you have the gift, or know someone who does, it's not that hard to arrange for someone to be afflicted.  The victim will not be immediately be aware that the Fankeh has been implanted into his or her body. Over time, Fankeh can cause poor health (either localised pain, or a more serious condition), bad luck (such as reduced job prospects due to favouritism of others), losing money, the freezing of bank accounts, and business failures. In fact, there are seemingly very few variants of ill fortune that can't be attributed to Fankeh. Curiously, a practitioner of black magic can, much like a Jedi, choose to use their powers for good or ill. Removing Fankeh is the preserve of witch doctors who have inherited the gift of seeing and being able to diffuse Fankeh. It's not cheap, though: removal of a Fankeh can cost up to 600,000 Leones (about £90 or a month's wages for an average professional person in Sierra Leone). Those same witch doctors can, again for a substantial fee, make you Fankeh-proof - giving you a kind of shield to ward it off. I wondered whether it was more lucrative to be an agent of the "dark side", or a healer, or whether there were witch doctors who made money both ways. For those who are already afflicted, traditional healers ('good' witch doctors) can locate Fankeh within your body, and remove it through manipulations. Certain herbal preparations are also necessary to cleanse the skin and so to allow the Fankeh to pass through it. It was this procedure that Jimmy had recently undergone. He introduced me to the resident healer in the "Patient Compound", whose nickname was "Madingo". Through the translations of another patient-in-waiting, a young man in his early twenties who happened to be an English language student, I discovered that Mr Madingo had started out as a civil servant before becoming disillusioned with the lack of progress in Sierra Leone. He had changed career, becoming a farmer, before giving this up, again as a result of disillusionment. Finally, he had made use of his hereditary gifts and become a healer, practising from the Patient Compound, to which some people travelled from hundreds of miles away for treatment. Malaria Mr Madingo suddenly offered, through the interpreter, to show me how his treatment worked. I was told nothing beforehand about what the patient, a woman in her late forties, was suffering from. I later discovered that she had been diagnosed with malaria by two conventional hospitals. She had taken anti-malaria drugs but they appeared not to have worked. Out of desperation, she had come to Mr Madingo (she lived in Makeni) and had spent 2 days awaiting treatment at the compound. She had already had certain herbal remedies applied to her skin which, she said, had made her feel slightly better.  With a crowd of the other patients and me all watching, the woman was ushered onto a small mat and asked to remove her blouse. A paste based on crushed mango leaves was then applied to her chest, back and neck by one of Mr Madingo's three assistants. Mr Madingo, dressed in an oversized polo shirt and baseball cap, removed his chunky gold watch and handed it to an assistant before pouring oil onto his hands and rubbing them together. He spread the oil liberally over the woman's face, breasts and belly. "He's going to shock it [the Fankeh] out of her body," explained my interpreter. The procedure was far from solemn, with Mr Madingo frequently chortling to himself as he worked his fingers hard into the woman's flesh. The Fankeh appeared to be lodged at the top of the woman's rib cage, and Mr Madingo lifted her breast to get better access to the spot. He prodded and probed harder and harder with his fingers and thumb, eliciting bigger and bigger grimaces from his patient. Eventually, with a flick of this wrist, he sent a shower of small stones flying down on to the mat. I counted perhaps a dozen. Mr Madingo wasn't finished, though. He started a new, even deeper and evidently more painful attack on the woman's rib cage, this time on her right flank, until he eventually brought forth a few more tiny stones.  The assistant sprayed oil onto the area Mr Madingo had been rubbing. "It's to cure her blood," my interpreter said. Mr Madingo then paused for thought, wagging his finger reflectively. "It's been in her body a long time," he said. He sent another assistant to fetch a medicine while he carried out a final check of the woman's shoulder and neck. He kneaded away for some time, chuckling to himself once more and apparently telling the woman to relax. Finally, he flicked his wrist for the final time and a single stone tumbled onto the mat. Her ordeal now over, the woman was handed a plastic beaker of viscous green liquid to drink.  One of the assistants collected all of the stones in one corner of the mat. There were perhaps 15 or 20 in all. My interpreter asked her some questions about the previous (conventional) treatment that she had had. All the while she ran her fingers over the no doubt very tender areas from which the Fankeh had been released by Mr Madingo. Supernatural It was a strange experience, needless to say. Sceptical though I was, I had to admire Mr Madingo's apparent sleight of hand. Or his supernatural abiliities, as the case may be. Almost as strange was explaining to Mr Madingo my own mission. Like the villagers of Mankay, he was sceptical that people would willingly run 26 miles for fun, but he was very happy for the marathon to pass by the compound. As I left, I couldn't help smiling to myself at the thought of Mr Madingo treating a cramped runner by the side of the trail to remove the Fankeh from his or her legs. Over the following two days, Mohamed and I refined the remainder of the route (which is provisional and subject to change if any engineering works are scheduled for next year). It is predominantly along tar roads, including a two kilometre stretch along the main highway into Makeni. The home straight passes SCOSL's proprietary bar, the Clubhouse, which will no doubt host the marathon after-party, and Makeni's mosque, market and stadium. All in all, the course is about 70% trail run and 30% tar roads. It's stunning (especially the crossing of the Mabol river) and, as my Madingo experience shows, is liable to provide some fairly memorable moments. An aerial view of the course (which you need to open using Google Earth) is downloadable from the marathon website  - www.sierraleonemarathon.com  - although the images are taken some years ago in the dry season so aren't quite representative of what you'd see on the day. But do think about signing up for the run next year. You won't forget it in a hurry! In the meantime, a huge thank you to Mohamed for putting up with three consecutive early starts and for all his patience, driving me around in circles under the thrall of the GPS. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-course/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/ben-hodgson/plotting-the-course/ Wed, 29 June 2011 00:00:00 Megan Lees-McCowan http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/megan-lees-mccowan/why-sierra-leone/ The Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is raising money to get children in Sierra Leone off the street and into school. But why Sierra Leone, you might well ask (and possibly: where is it?)   Sierra Leone is a beautiful West African country roughly the size of Wales, and ten years ago, its children hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The use of child soldiers was a hallmark of a civil war which brought the country to its knees - displacing thousands of families and orphaning many children.   But today, Sierra Leone is a country transformed. Peaceful, welcoming, and blessed with incredible natural resources (including some of the best beaches in the world), both of Sierra Leone's neighbours are now stable, where once wars crossed borders into - and out of - the country.   For me, working to raise money for Street Child of Sierra Leone is not only the chance to do something that has immediate impact on individual lives, but that also contributes to a trend of positive change for West Africa.   There are few countries whose future depends on the fate of its children more than Sierra Leone. According to the latest UN figures, half of the population are under 18. It is still one of the poorest countries in the world, and the children who live on its streets are just the tip of the iceberg - less than half of Sierra Leone's population can read.   Street Child of Sierra Leone is aiming to raise £1 million to get 500 girls and 500 boys off Sierra Leone's streets, and 5000 children into school in our Jubilee Appeal, of which the Marathon is the final and biggest event.   But it's not all about numbers and trends. Take the story of Abas Sankoh , an orphan whose disability made him a target for abuse. It's a terrible story - but now Abas is no longer living on the streets. He is enrolled in our programme for street children, and has gone back to school. In his words, "Now I am living a normal life".   That's why we picked the slogan 'Run For Their Lives'. Children in Sierra Leone shouldn't live on the street and go without education. By running the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon and raising money for Street Child of Sierra Leone, we are doing something to change that. We invite you to join us in whatever way you can. http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/megan-lees-mccowan/why-sierra-leone/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/megan-lees-mccowan/why-sierra-leone/ Tue, 10 January 2012 17:24:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/january-runners-event/ 2012 is a hugely exciting year for Street Child as we continue to develop our work in Sierra Leone and organise our ground-breaking Sierra Leone Marathon event (a full and half marathon plus a 5k run) on the 9th of June.  In light of this, we warmly invite anyone interested in the Sierra Leone Marathon to join the Street Child team, marathon committee, other charity supporters and runners on Thursday 26th January to hear the latest news on our projects and a preview of our 2012 plans as well as see a presentation on the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon.  WHEN: Thursday January 26th / 18:30 arrival for a 19:00 start  WHERE: The Jewel Bar, Piccadilly  http://www.jewelpiccadilly.co.uk/gallery/main.html  Please RSVP to jannah@street-child.co.uk - friends are welcome. On this night you can:  - See a presentation on the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon - Hear the latest news from Street child and a preview of our 2012 plans  - Meet members of the Street Child team, marathon committee and other charity supporters and runners  If you are hesitating to participate in the marathon, this is an excellent opportunity to meet other runners and exchange tips, or speak to the Street Child team who can answer any questions you may have.  We look forward to see you there!    Tom http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/january-runners-event/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/january-runners-event/ Tue, 24 January 2012 19:18:00 Tom Dannatt http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-v-london-olympics/ The Olympics has happened more than 30 times in the common era and who knows how many times in the olden days. There has never been an event like this in Sierra Leone before!   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 1 London Olympics 0   It's a low blow, but tell me it's not true, you've had a great Christmas but you don't half feel it?! Need a target, something to aim for, go for? Problem is, you've left it a bit late to get into the Olympics. But hey, check out the training calendars on  www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com  - 12 weeks of training and you're ready for your marathon, half or 5km in Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone!   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 2 London Olympics 0   You can't even get a ticket for the Olympics!! But be on the front-line, the starting line that is, for the Sierra Leone Marathon! Not watching but doing - being part of the story!   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 3 London Olympics 0   OK, OK so you got a ticket for the Olympics - ooch. How much did it cost you? Did it include 5 nights food, accommodation *,  time with Street Child's brilliant children's projects, race-entry fees and travel around the country ** ? All yours for £300 at  http://www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/register/   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 4 London Olympics 0   The whole idea of the Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon is to get a tonne of people over to Sierra Leone to see our work. Realise how much our work is achieving - and how far so little goes (a child in school for a term for the cost of a supermarket bottle of wine?). And raise a load more for us so we can get more children off the street and into school.   Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon 15, London Olympics 0!   *     Accommodation is quite basic - but first come, first served! **    Flights are extra   all the best Tom http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-v-london-olympics/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/kiln-sierra-leone-marathon-v-london-olympics/ Fri, 06 January 2012 14:58:00 http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/ben-fogle-launches-the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon/ On a cold December morning in the City... yesterday we officially launched Street Child's Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon! More contrasting conditions to those anticipated in Makeni on the morning of the 9th June you could hardly find...   Adventurer and presenter Ben Fogle spearheaded the public launch, as the Patron of our Marathon. He was joined at the press conference by our own General Lord Dannatt and Kiln's CEO Charles Franks, as well as myself and the rest of the Marathon team.   Lining up with Ben Fogle for the launch were schoolchildren from St James' Senior Boys School and Sir John Laws School, both of which have signed up to raise money for this groundbreaking initiative by dedicating their summer 2012 sports events to Street Child of Sierra Leone.   The challenge is now to you! Have you got it in you to get to the starting line for the Marathon, half-marathon or 5km events in Makeni on Saturday 9th June next year?   You can register now! We've just launched a brand new site and we're on Facebook and Twitter too.   If you are still thinking about running for Street Child, we want to hear from you. And if you know people who might be interested in the event, whether running, sponsoring a runner, bringing an employer onboard as an event sponsor, or fundraising, we want to hear from them too. So please spread the word!   Our work is amazing, we're not shy to say it. Sierra Leone needs a lot more of it - and we want to do it.  But we need help - we need you. Be brave, be bold. Come and join us in Sierra Leone next June for an adventure you will never forget - and for a challenge which so obviously stands out from the crowd you know your friends and family will fall over themselves to back you!   Thank you, as ever,   Tom http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/ben-fogle-launches-the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/ben-fogle-launches-the-kiln-sierra-leone-marathon/ Wed, 07 December 2011 17:13:00 Tom Dannatt http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/registrations-now-open/ It is true - on 9 June 2012, Street Child of Sierra Leone is organising a marathon (and a half-marathon; and a 5km) - in Makeni! This event is generously lead-sponsored by the insurance company Kiln.  We do innovative, we do big, we do bold. This event is absolutely all three! There has never been a marathon in Sierra Leone before (in fact we don't think there has been one in West Africa outside a capital city!). This event aims to raise thousands; let's be honest, hopefully hundreds  of thousands of pounds for our work. But also, to give hundreds of runners and supporters a unique chance to both experience Sierra Leone and our work 'hands-on' - and give them the adventure of a life-time . . . What do you reckon? Already a champion runner looking for your next hit? Or out of breath if you run for the bus - but hey this sounds amazing and I've got 7 months to train...  Can you run? Who can you tell? Got an idea? Either way, this is the big news now -  The first tranche of 100 places in the marathon, half-marathon and 5km race are now officially 'on sale'! And here are 3 brilliant reasons to sign-up as quick as possible . . . 1.      A £25 discount off the main 'Traveller's package' - for all who pay in full before the official event media launch on 6 December. 2.      Get to the top of the accommodation priority list!!! One thing we've been frank about from the start is that the quality of accommodation in Makeni is at best 'variable' . . . So how will we decide who gets the better beds? Easy, we'll give them to those that sign up first!* 3.      We are only releasing 100 places at this stage. Signing up now is the only way to guarantee your place on this adventure! ***REGISTER AT:  www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/register.html  *** 'The Traveller's Package"   [nb does not include flights or insurance. . . ] For those coming from London, we have worked incredibly hard, and pulled in all sorts of favours, to put together a basic package which will keep your in-country costs as low as possible - whilst also giving you a remarkable experience with our work, as well as the historic race itself . . .  Costs - £275 if you sign up and pay up before 6/12/11 £300 thereafter . . .   Includes - Basic transport from Freetown/airport to & around Makeni A maximum of 5 nights basic accommodation & food in/around Makeni Your race fees Opportunities to spend up to 3 days with our street child and school projects SL visa costs ** Local entries & simple packages And for those already based in Sierra Leone, or wanting less in-country assistance, race-only or simpler packages are also available - full details online at  www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com   All the other details are online - everything from the route to the logistics. The FAQ section in particular is an absolute gold-mine - favourites include: I'd love to come but I'm worried I can't afford it (can you help? How do I get to Sierra Leone? How safe is Sierra Leone? And many more -  www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/faq.html     But if you can't see the answer to your question, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 7614 7696 or  info@sierraleonemarathon.com   Thank you, we really hope to welcome as many of you as possible to Sierra Leone next June! Yours,  Tom Dannatt - Director & Founder, Street Child of Sierra Leone Ben Hodgson - Race Director, Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon www.kilnsierraleonemarathon.com/register.html    * This benefit is not to be under-estimated - as those who've been to Makeni will attest! Please nb, we may offer a limited number of 'upgrade' packages to latecomers which would leap-frog 'early bird' participants - but you'll still be a lot higher than most people! ** Applies for as long as the Sierra Leone High Commission retains its hugely generous offer of free visas for all Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon participants!  http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/registrations-now-open/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/registrations-now-open/ Mon, 21 November 2011 10:06:00 Tom Dannatt http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/big-thanks-to-royal-park-runners/ Some of the Street Child Royal Parks runners, left to right, Philip Powell, Bertie Dannatt and Jenny Buchanan with Alison Williams, one of the support team on the day. A big thank you to our 24 runners who all finished the Royal Parks Half Marathon (with no injuries or serious regrets that we know of) ! Many thanks for your efforts, both on the run and with raising sponsorship for Street Child. It is much appreciated! Bertie Dannatt finished first for us with a rather impressive time of only 1hr 34mins! And we also had many more come over the finish line in that second hour, including Jamie Bowden, Tom Quayle and Laurence, who within minutes didn't look like they'd even run a mile! And our ladies were most impressive!! Thank you to everyone! It was a lovely day for the run and we had a prime spot for our Street Child stand - just near the 800 metres-to-go mark, where we cheered on the runners for hours. The Street Child team were among 12,500 runners who came from across the UK and 30 countries around the world to race through the streets of London with 40,000 spectators and supporters cheering on the participants. Starting and finishing in Hyde Park, runners ran the scenic 13.1 mile route through four of London's beautiful Royal Parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Green Park and St James's Park) and past some of the capital's most iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, The London Eye and The Royal Albert Hall.   We spoke with quite a few runners so are hoping it generated some interest for the Sierra Leone Marathon! Read more about the  Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon   http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/big-thanks-to-royal-park-runners/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/big-thanks-to-royal-park-runners/ Fri, 14 October 2011 00:00:00 Tom Dannatt http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/welcome/ I am the Director (and founder) of Street Child of Sierra Leone - this is a really quick welcome blog to the Sierra Leone Marathon! Why oh why, are we running a marathon in Sierra Leone - what is it all about?   The short story is that it grew out of two main thoughts - and a bit more: Firstly, fundraising! Over the past three years we have developed an amazingly effective model of street child / family re-integration. Since December 2008 we have helped 1000 street children away from the street, back into home and education - and our sustainability plan means the very vast majority stay there. But we are only able to focus on the North of Sierra Leone within our current budgets - so to reach the rest of the country we need some serious money! So our fundraising committee got its thinking hat on and went looking for a really 'big' idea - because these days, to really catch the 'sponsorship attention' of your friends, colleagues and family in a proper way, the walk round the village just doesn't cut the ice like it used to! And this plan bubbled up . . .    And secondly, it grabbed us because if there is one thing that has powered our growth more than anything else over the past three years, it has been people going out and yes, seeing the harrowing issues - but much more, seeing how the work of our brilliantly committed team makes such a lasting difference. And also what a fun, welcoming, beautiful country SL is actually is - they don't call it 'Sweet Salone' for nothing!  We are hosting the marathon in Makeni because Makeni is where Street Child started and remains our largest project site (we've also got a great restaurant-bar there whose profits fund some of our work!) - and because we think 'up-country' Sierra Leone is the 'real Sierra Leone'. It brings you as close to our world as you can get!   We also loved the idea because it 'fits' with and 'communicates' so many of our core values. Such as being 'innovative and bold' - there has never been a marathon in Sierra Leone before, and very few marathons in Africa outside capital cities. And 'community' - this event is being powered by a volunteer task-force which will probably number in the hundreds by the time we're finished Finally as a spectacle, this will be massive in Sierra Leone! Not only will it give our charity a great profiling opportunity - but more importantly it will massively raise the visibility of the issue we are all working for: street-children.    So this is the big plan. One morning in June, to run around a bit of town and bigger bit of bush, get very sweaty and hope it doesn't rain! Making a lot of noise and bags of money for street children. And before and after finding out just how easy and exciting it is to make a difference - and despite its enormous poverty, what a wonderful place Sierra Leone is!   I'd love to see you in Makeni this coming June, thank you Best, Tom http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/welcome/ http://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/bloghttp://www.sierraleonemarathon.com/blog/pages/2011/tom-dannatt/welcome/ Sat, 08 October 2011 00:00:00