On Saturday 9th May, I will be running the Inflatable 5K in Guildford’s Stoke Park. This is a fun run where each lap (which is 2.5k) consists of 15 inflatable obstacle courses - think CBBC’s 50/50 meets Total Wipeout without the water!

I will be running to raise money for Revive Congo. Based in the UK and working on the ground in the DRC’s capital of Kinshasa, the charity is dedicated to supporting the development of Congolese youth and making education accessible by covering the school fees of Congolese children.

The charity has partnered with Mission Marie Orphanage, providing the children with frequent food packages and other necessities.

As well as this, Revive Congo has multiple ongoing projects.

Their IT Skills Centre was launched in response to research the charity conducted, which found that only only 23% of the DRC population possesses IT skills. This programme aims to equip young Congolese adults with practical digital skills—from using Microsoft Office for CVs and business budgeting to leveraging the internet for income.

They also host a free annual summer youth programme that covers various topics, including the history and culture of Congo, project management and business, mental health awareness, and career advice, to help young people flourish in their community.

The charity has been doing amazing work since its genesis in 2012, and as a Congolese woman myself, I hope to use this fun run as an opportunity to raise awareness and fundraise for a great cause.

This is my first 5K run since 2017. Thankfully, this is not a race, but with 30 inflatable obstacles to conquer, this will be a fun challenge for me. So, if you have any spare change, that will be great!

God bless, Simone xx