Ethiopia: Every One Race attracts thousands in support

I was lucky enough to be in Ethiopia last weekend at the same time as the Everyone Race (part of the Great Ethiopian Run’s events portfolio) was being held in Hawassa. I jumped at the chance to take part. Not in the 21km race but in the 7km fun run.

The race is to raise money and awareness for reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in Ethiopia, where one in eight children die before their fifth birthday and 94% of women give birth at home without any professional care.

In Ethiopia, Every One is part of the MoH campaign on Safe Motherhood and Child Health. It is supported by many different organisations including Save the Children, CARE, Ethiopian Nurse Midwives Association, Last 10K and UNICEF.

It was a relaxed and good humoured race with so many participants. A sea of red t-shirted people bobbing up and down making their way along the road. Many running, some walking, some doing a bit of both.

There was also the occasional donkey standing in the road seemingly oblivious to the goings on around it.

It was very hot and I ended up walking much of the race, Many children ran past me in flip-flops. Maybe one of them will be the next Haile Gebra Selassie.

It was a lot of fun and really wonderful to see so many people and organisations united behind the Every One banner.