Mogadishu Half Marathon Runners Raise Money for Free Ambulance Service

Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, is often more associated with insecurity than charity running events.

However, British adventure travel company Untamed Borders have been running small bespoke trips to Mogadishu since 2012. For the last two years, they have teamed up with the Mogadishu half marathon, to bring intrepid runners to the city to compete in a race they will never forget, and to get a feel for life in Somalia.

As well as competing in the race, the ten international runners got to visit cultural and historical parts of the city such as the fish market, the lighthouse and go people watching at Lido beach.

The race itself is a charity event which raises money for the Aamin Ambulance service. Aamin Ambulance was founded a dentist, called Dr Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, who returned to Somalia during the war in 2006 to find no health services. The charities volunteers operate a fleet of 10 ambulances, responding to anything from minor injuries and illnesses to terrorist attacks.

In addition to the entry fee Untamed Borders gave US$2000 from the package cost to the Aamin Ambulance service to ensure they are able to continue their services. Given the current global health pandemic, this is a timely piece of assistance in a nation with limited healthcare facilities.

For more information on the 2021 Mogadishu Half Marathon, please contact us here.