Magical atmosphere for Farm Africa runners at London Marathon
13 April 2014
Image: the Farm Africa support team wait for their runners down at the cheer point on Victoria Embankment
Farm Africa’s runners were treated to brilliant sunshine and a carnival atmosphere by the Thames as they each completed the gruelling 26 miles that makes up the world’s most famous marathon.
Months of early morning runs and hard training throughout the winter paid off with Farm Africa runners feeling a huge sense of pride and achievement as they crossed the finishing line to the applause and congratulations of family, friends and loved ones.
As ever, the incredibly loud and colourful support from the London crowds thronging the route carried the runners along in a wave of good will. And it certainly helped the runners who all felt that the support they received from people they didn’t know was a really important factor in spurring them on to the finishing line on the Mall.
Karen Foufa, thrilled to have finished in under four hours, summed up just how special running in the marathon can be:
“It really was a fantastic day. I couldn’t believe just how amazing the support was all the way round.”
And for Toba Ademouso, the day was made even more special as he was running on his birthday.
“I came round past the Cutty Sark in Greenwich and was then running up through Deptford which was incredible because it’s where I grew up and I know the area so well. It was amazing to be running the marathon along the same streets that I knew as a boy and I had so much support.”
The runners were backed up by an incredible Farm Africa support team, cheering all the runners on as they neared the finish along Victoria Embankment. And to give the support a truly African flavour, members of the SOAS West African Drumming Society stepped in to drum up even louder support for the runners as they went past.
Farm Africa Ambassador Haile Gebrselassie sets the pace
In addition to Farm Africa’s fundraisers, we also had one very special entrant in the elite men’s race. Olympic running legend Haile Gebrselassie was on hand both to set the pace and sprinkle some of his very special stardust over the event.
The iconic Ethiopian runner is a Farm Africa Ambassador and has spoken of his commitment to helping Farm Africa and its work:
“Most of the poorest people in my country Ethiopia live in rural areas. Farm Africa is making a real difference to the lives of farmers, pastoralists and people who rely on forests. It gives me great pleasure to help my people in this way.”
Farm Africa running team
A huge thank you to all our amazing runners who made the day a very special one for Farm Africa:
Chris Watts, Vivian Murindi, Michael Hershman, Zoe Holland, Toba Ademosu, Jamie Gray, Matthew Uren, Karen Foufa, Alex Rothwell.
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