Sahara half marathon
Managing Director, Liz Harkman has returned from spending a week living amongst the Saharawi people of the Smara refugee camp in the Western algerian desert. The purpose of her trip was to run a half marathon and to raise money for Sandblast Ltd, an arts and culture focused charity to provide opportunities to the Saharawi refugees in freedom of expression through music, art and culture.
A couple of words from Liz about her experience, 'Running 21km across the sahara desert was probably the toughest thing I have ever done but to share the hospitality, warmth and generosity of this displaced community was well worth the pain. The human rights violations which have kept over 200,000 Saharawi people from accessing and returning to their homeland cannot be ignored. The world really needs to wake up and help raise awareness to pressure governments to insist on changing the situation that has largely been forgotten and ignored.'
You can support this cause by donating to Liz's fund raising efforts and signing a petition.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/sahrawirights/
http://www.justgiving.com/lizharkman
The Marathon Team arrive at camp...
Liz's accommodation for the week...
Receiving her pre-race treatment of a Henna tattoo...
Liz had been assured that the course would be flat....
Under starter's orders, I think the 3 at the back have an advantage...
The President of the Saharwi's arrives prior to the race to give his blessing...
And they're off...
The crowd were on hand to celebrate Liz crossing the line...
Slightly different surroundings than Liz is used to for an Awards Ceremony...
Relaxing after the run...
But just about enough energy to muster a victory leap...
'Here where no plants or flowers grow, people flourish' - Saharwi motto...
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Reply #1 on : Sat June 26, 2010, 12:43:06