We are proud of all our trustees for their fundraising efforts this year, but a special mention has to go to Kevin who last month spent 55 consecutive hours running across the beautiful, dramatic and at points treacherous island of La Reunion.
In the Southern Indian Ocean, La Reunion hosts La Diagonale des Fous, a pinnacle in the ultramarathon racing calendar. It is an epic race, covering 182km and 11,000 metres elevation (for perspective Mount Everest is 8,848m).
Kevin set off at 10pm on Thursday and ran through 3 nights of punishingly slippery, rain-soaked mountain trails; in a tropical climate where temperatures reached over 30 degrees by day and dropped to 5 at night. Spurred on by locals who gave runners a hero’s welcome whenever the course took them close to civilisation. 20 check points later, Kevin crossed the finish line at 6am on the Sunday morning.
It’s a feat few of us can really imagine. We were all marvelling and cheering virtually from the side lines via WhatsApp; Kevin was able to see the messages but not reply, being somewhat occupied. Unfortunately, about half way in, his ankle started to hurt badly. This turned out to be a sprain which incredibly didn’t deter him – he powered through. Kevin said afterwards that there were 3 or 4 points when he thought he couldn’t carry on but it was the cause of running for BFZ that got him to the end.
He said; “It has been absolutely epic. Receiving the “Diagonale” Finisher Medal in aid of BFZ was a proud moment I will never forget.” … And some weeks later he was able to say; “I loved it!”
Kevin, October 2024
Thank you so much Kevin for taking the BFZ cause to La Reunion, for sporting the BFZ logo on your bandana, and for the impact the funds you raised will make to the lives of families and children in Zambia. You’re an inspiration to us all!
