Run for Congo Women
United Kingdom
Thank you to all our amazing runners who fundraised and ran alongside Lisa Shannon, founder of Run for Congo Women, on 11th September in Hyde Park. Remember that you can still fundraise and help us hit our target of raising £100k to help women in the DRC. All those who raise over £500 will receive a free signed copy of her book, A Thousand Sisters. Read more about Lisa’s story, featured in Runner’s World, here.
100% of the funds you raise will go directly to Women for Women International’s programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, enabling women affected by the conflict to rebuild their lives. So far our amazing supporters, including the Strictly Come Dancing celebrity Pamela Stephenson-Connolly, and Chris Jackson who ran the most dangerous marathon in the world, have raised over £85,000!
Previous Run
- Title: Run for Congo Women - Adidas Women's 5k Challenge 2011
- Date: Sunday, 11th September 2011
- Location: Hyde Park, London
- Distance: 5k
Find an organised run in your region, get registered and start fundraising. You can take part in Run for Congo Women wherever you are. Find a run here. You can also organise your own Run for Congo Women event. Download the Organiser’s Starter Pack.
We ask that each participant aims to raise at least £150. £150 can provide Life-Skills Training for one woman in Congo, equipping her with the knowledge and confidence to exercise greater decision-making power within her family and community - contributing to sustainable and lasting change. So far the £85,000 raised by our runners is enough to support 566 women. Learn more about our programmes in Congo here.
Thank you to the 41 runners who took part in our recent Run for Congo Women event on Sunday, 3rd July. Collectively, you have raised over £10,000! We want to give a special thanks to Kandy Rohmann for organising a film screening, running the 10k and raising more than £1,800!
Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo presents one of the world's deadliest emergencies to date.
This conflict has particularly affected women and girls as they are systematically raped as a weapon of war to terrorise and humiliate. Tens-of-thousands of women and girls have experienced sexual violence - some raped whilst on the way to school, others while fetching water, and many are kept as sex slaves for soldiers. A recent study concluded that 400,000 females aged 15-49 were raped over a 12-month period in 2006 and 2007, or 48 attacks every hour, The situation is so extreme that Margot Wallström, the UN’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict, has recently called DR Congo the "rape capital of the world."
Learn more about our work in the DRC and read The Democratic Republic of Congo Survey: Stronger Women, Stronger Nations, 2010.
Fundraising
Pamela S-C running in Regents Park April 2011
Lucienne: “They pulled me down to rape me in front of my brother.”
Fundraising is an important part of Run for Congo Women and we ask that each participant aims to raise at least £150.
Does £150 seem like an intimidating amount? In fact, 76% of those who fundraised in the inaugural Run for Congo raised this much or more...and many of these runners had never participated in a charity run before. Women for Women is committed to helping you fundraise and will provide tools and tips to help you achieve and exceed your personal fundraising target. Learn more in your Runner’s Fundraising pack below.
Don't like running? Feel free to organise a Bike for Congo, Trek for Congo, Swim for Congo - the possibilities are endless as long as you're committed. If you still have questions email runforcongouk@womenforwomen.org or call the Grassroots Campaigns Officer on 0207 922 7767, we would love to hear your ideas!
