Mina Guli Sidelined by Fractured Femur After Marathon #62:
Mina’s followers joining her on marathon number 64 of #RunningDry Photo: Kelvin Trautman
Injury forces changes to campaign as #RunningDry continues to raise awareness about global water crisis
CAPE TOWN, January 07, 2019. Water advocate and ultra runner Mina Guli has halted her challenge to run 100 marathons in 100 days around the world to raise awareness about the global water crisis.
After doctors discovered a stress fracture to her right femur earlier this month, Mina continued the campaign, walking a further three marathons in South Africa to complete marathon #62. However, the injury has worsened and Mina will now need to take a break from her daily marathons to recover from injury.
Marathon #62 ended in tears with Mina no longer able to put any weight onto her right leg. After consulting with local experts at the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital and her international medical team, it was discovered that the 48-year-old now has multiple stress fractures in her right femur.
“I have broken the largest bone in my body trying to complete my #RunningDry campaign,” says a very tearful Mina. “If it were up to me, I would still be out there walking, despite it now taking more than 12 hours to complete 42.2km. However, my team and I need to prioritize my health and taking a short time out will allow us to continue the #RunningDry campaign and to focus on some of the important water stories that need to be told.”
Mina was met at the hospital by friend and mentor, Lewis Pugh, who strongly advised Mina that she cannot jeopardise her next 38 years of campaigning for the global water crisis for the next 38 days of this campaign.
Mina’s team stepped in to complete marathon #63 on Saturday, January 5 in Cape Town, with podiatrist Brock Healy, physiotherapist Elena Hobson, photographer Kelvin Trautman and cinematographer Jared Paisley each taking turns running parts of the 42.2km for her. But true to her stubborn, gritty nature, Mina has vowed that she will lace up her shoes again in order to finish the #RunningDry campaign in the allotted 100 days on 11 February 2019.
In a showing of how the global community needs to work together to solve the world’s water problems, Mina’s friends, family and supporters have rallied around her to “donate” their kilometres to Mina in order for #RunningDry to continue whilst she recuperates. There have even been calls by running groups to start a global #RunningDry marathon day where people from all over the world are encouraged to walk or run for Mina.
“I have been so humbled by the support from people all over the world,” she explains. “Without them and their incredible offers to run for me, I never would have been able to make this very tough decision to rest for the next couple of days. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has sent a message or offered to run or walk for water – your support means everything to me and it has truly inspired everyone on the campaign.”
For each day that Mina recovers, 42.2 km needs to be logged by the global community of water savers. Those interested in running and walking as part of the #RunningDry campaign are asked to log their kilometres and share them to Mina’s social media accounts, using #RunningDry. This will keep the campaign on the go while Mina recovers, and help spread the message of how precious our water is even further than originally anticipated.
On Sunday 06 January, Mina’s followers around the world collectively completed a distance of 3 marathons for Mina and her #RunningDry campaign, with one supporter – Bruno Sanchez-Andrade Nuno – completed a full marathon, while others donated shorter distances, including young children who joined in the fun.
To find out more about the #RunningDry campaign and to log your kilometres make sure to visit Mina’s social media pages.
Some of the messages sent to Mina on social media:
Bruno Sanchez-Andrade Nuno – I’d be happy to run a marathon for her! I can see the headline quote now – “At that point Mina realized that the most difficult change requires smarts, collaboration and challenging the paradigm. And when she herself ran dry she enlisted runners and walkers from around the world to complete her challenge.” ?
#ItTakesAVillage
Lucille Renwick @lcrenwick – Stay strong @MinaGuli. I would happily be your proxy for one of more of these marathons to avoid having you endure a permanent injury.
Hilde Vestad @HildeVestad – Did 10km for you today @MinaGuli – if 3 more join me we should reach your goal for today – right? Hang in there superwoman!
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