| Donation: |
|
|
From the Director: |
For the migrants and asylum seekers landing in Lesbos, Greece:
Doctors Without Borders/ Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that provides aid to people in some 60 countries whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from healthcare, or natural disasters.
I, Deleigh Hermes, was inspired to create this event after attending a week long international journalism fest called Visa pour L'image in France this past September 2016. I was very moved by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer,Yannis Behrakis', exhibition. Yannis is a photographer from Greece who covered the event of hundreds of rafts landing on the island of Lesbos, that floated across the sea all the way from Turkey and Syria. His images were so strong and showed such compassion through the lens that it made my eyes water to see people in such dismay. The day after seeing his exhibition, I saw him speak on a panel about his experience photographing these people (who landed on the shores of Greece) trying save their families from harm, at any cost.
As I was sitting in front of this passionate and dedicated photographer who photographed these people, I realized that I was once removed from them. As a photographer myself, it really hit me. I stood up and asked how I could help. He said that there are many NGO's that I could donate to. I started to think about what my measly $50 could do and began to think about a bigger way to help. Then, as fate had it, I ran into Yannis on the beach the day after the fest was over. We had a great conversation regarding his story over the migrants. I proposed to put on a race to help raise a substantial amount of money for them. He told me, "If you really want to do this, Ill put you in contact with my people and we will help make it happen."
So that is how this races started and I am very excited about putting on this event. Right now (January 18, 2017) in Greece, many are freezing, dying or getting frost bite in the -20 degree temps. I wish I could get money to them sooner. But by creating this event, 100% of profits will go directly to the men, women and children in Greece who traveled across the Aegean Sea on dinghies to seek refuge from their war torn country, through the MSF (Doctors Without Boarders.)
I feel that being so far removed from a conflict like this, it is hard to know where to donate because, in reality, many do not know much about such topics in detail and or are afraid to donate because we do not know where exactly it is going or how it is being applied. It is my mission to make sure the 100% of profits will go to the MSF and we have made arrangements for the profits to go specifically to the refugees and asylum seekers in Greece for medical care and other emergency associated needs.
Thank you so much for signing up or donating for this race.
With love, Deleigh Hermes |
| Schedule: |
8:00am - Registration and packet pickup After- Henry+ The Invisiables |
| Entry Fees: |
March - April 29 : 5k $30 10k $40
May 1st - May 6th 5k $45 10k $55 |
| Awards: |
Top 3 Males 5k Top 3 Female 5k Top 3 Male 10k Top 3 Female 10k
PACKET PICK UP: Saturday May 6th @ Run Lab 1-5pm 410 Pressler St, Austin, TX 78703 |
| Additional: |
Images that made me want to put this on: Yannis Behrakis link There will be parking at the event. Henry and the Invisibles is donating his time to play after the event. There will be drinks and food afterward. |
| Contact: |
Deleigh Hermes |
