Run for Refugees at the Chichester Half

World Refugee Week (20th - 26th June) commemorates the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. In support, we are launching a ‘Run for Refugees’ challenge to fundraise for the many refugee children we work with.

Each year Children on the Edge organises the Chichester Half Marathon together with Everyone Active. In 2016 we are looking for 100 'Team Children on the Edge' runners to raise £100 for refugee children.

Our work includes the provision of protection, education and support in trauma recovery for Syrian refugee children in Lebanon, Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh and internally displaced children in in Kachin State, Burma.

Always on the move - Aya’s story

Aya is a 12 year old Syrian refugee who, together with her parents and four siblings, were forced to  flee to Lebanon. The whole family lived in a tiny tarpaulin construction in a refugee camp in Bekaa Valley. Having lost everything her parents would go out each day to find work and leave Aya to care for the other children.

After talking with teachers from the tent schools we support, her mother decided that Aya could start attending. At first she was shy, but slowly became incredibly motivated. One teacher said “We often see her studying Arabic or maths or practicing her English outside of class, even over holidays. She quickly caught up with the rest of her peers and is a bright, perceptive, caring student.”

Soon after this, the military arrived and ordered the evacuation of the entire camp. They had nowhere to go. The team running the schools decided to build their own camp, where families could be safe. Aya’s father ended up helping to look for land to rent and sharing ideas about how the camp could be a safe and peaceful place. He volunteered to help a team of builders take down the current school and reconstruct it at the new site.

Aya and her family have since moved into the new camp and have opened a small grocery shop from their tent. The children are now all in the new school and their parents are instrumental in the functioning of the camp. Project leader Nuna Matar says “They look like new people”. 

£97 can help run a tent school in Lebanon for one day, helping 100 Syrian refugee children come to school. So with a small amount of fundraising from you, we can make a big difference.

Whether you're running the Chichester Half Marathon course, the Ten Miler or Team Relay, you can be part of Team Children on the Edge and raise funds for refugee children.

Starting on Monday 20th June (World Refugee Day) until the end of July we are running a special discount code to get £10 off your entry fee when you commit to raising £100. Simply register for the race, enter the code RunforRefugees10.

Sign up for the Chichester half
Find out more about our work.