Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In a moment of utter madness I have agreed to run a 10km race at the end of November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As many of you already appreciate I am not a 'natural born runner'.  Having only done my research after I signed up for the challenge, I have now discovered that the run not only takes place at an altitude of 2500 metres but has been described as the World's Toughest Fun Run which may account for there typically being less than 300 international runners and 30,000 Ethiopians. I have been training in my attic in an effort to build my altitude stamina and now think it will be an achievement to simply finish the course.

I am participating in the Great Ethiopian Run on 27 November to raise funds for the amazing sight-saving charity, ORBIS, an organisation dedicated to preserving and restoring the sight of people in the poorest communities, and for which I am a trustee. 

I am running to raise money for ORBIS’s programme in southern Ethiopia working to eliminate the blinding eye condition, trachoma. Trachoma is a highly infectious and agonising eye disease that has been wiped out in the western world, but in countries like Ethiopia it continues to bring misery, pain, blindness and poverty. 

Yet trachoma is both easy to treat and prevent. With effective treatment someone’s suffering could actually be over very quickly. Their sight could be saved and their life transformed. ORBIS has adopted the World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy which involves corrective Surgery, to reverse the effects of trachoma (in-turned eye lids which result in eye lashes scraping on the surface of the eye); distributing Antibiotics to prevent infection and spread of the illness; raising awareness of Facial cleanliness to prevent the bacteria which causes infection; and improving the surrounding Environment through improving access to clean water and sanitation. 

In countries where even healthy people struggle to provide for their own needs, blind and visually impaired people suffer extreme poverty.  The measures to control trachoma are extremely cost effective. It costs £50 to distribute a dose of the antibiotic, Zithromax, to 200 adults and children. £100 pays for 10 people to have sight saving surgery.

I know that you receive many calls for sponsorship but i would really appreciate any contribution you feel able to make.

Best wishes

Melanie