Charity feature: Mark Maughan, a freelance Journalist and Event Manager currently working with the Sierra Leone Athletics Association has been in touch, asking us to spread the word about Sierre Leone athlete Idrissa Kargbo who has gained a place in the New York Marathon
22 year old Idrissa has been a runner since he was a small boy growing up in Freetown. He is passionate and devoted to the pleasure and pain of long-distance running. "I love running long distances. Running is in my blood. I don't want to stop".
Idrissa was selected for a place in the New York Marathon following his victory at the 2012 Sierra Leone Marathon. He completed the race in a time of 2 hours 38 minutes, beating his nearest competitor by 20 minutes. It was the furthest he had ever run and he set a new national record.
In August 2013 he proved his talent internationally and came in second at the Liberian Marathon breaking his own record in 2 hours 35 minutes. (Click here for more information)
Now Global Fashpack are raising funds to fly Idrissa to New York from Freetown and cover the cost of his accommodation, food, transport, passport, insurance, visa and a puffer jacket to ward off the crisp NY Autumn temperatures.
Global Fashpack is an initiative started by Jo Dunlop, an Australian living in Sierra Leone. This small organisation aims to nurture young talent in Sierre Leone across sport, arts and music. We want to help create a new generation of role models by providing young people with opportunities to realise their full potential to shine.
The team are also making a documentary about Idrissa's journey! Through the talented eye of London filmmaker Leanne Welham, they are recording Idrissa’s story in a documentary style film which is already in the works.
Click here to find out more
