Last month I had the privilege of being able to return to my roots, to East Africa where I was born. To see where I went to school at the foot of the Morogoro mountains in Tanzania. To show my children my childhood home. To meet elders from my community who remembered me when I was five and told me stories of days I had forgotten I had lived.

Tomorrow I have the greater privilege of returning to East Africa with my family to take part in the 10th Great Run. The Great Run was co- founded by Motor Trader, the Motoring Press Agency and my cousin Amir (Auto Art) also known as Paji or The King of the Ring. Amir was a renowned motor sport racer who dedicated his life to motoring and community service. We lost him too soon doing what he loved best. His legacy still lives on.

The Great Run is a long distance endurance driving event for all motor vehicles from motorbikes to hatchbacks to exotics. An integral part of the event is raising funds for charity with the focus this time being on the Olmalaika Home in Sekeneni. The mission of the Olmalaika Home is to protect young Maasai girls from the illegal practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and/or childhood marriage usually affecting girls between the ages of 7-15 years.

The Olmalaika Home provides a warm, nurturing and loving environment where girls learn to value themselves. It also provides education and a safe space fostering respect and appreciation for peers, teachers, leaders and the Maasai culture.

I strongly believe that every one of us deserves a warm, nurturing and loving environment to grow in and flourish and more significantly I also believe every girl has an inherent right to feel safe and not suffer indignities or pain in any shape or form.

Please help me to raise awareness and valuable funds to allow the Olmalaika Home to continue working tirelessly to help raise the next generation of educated, productive, respected and valuable young women.

Very best wishes

Shainul