Hatfield student completes charity run in Ethiopia raising thousands for ActionAid

Layla Boubker after finishing the run

Source:  St Albans & Harpenden Review:  By Jack Marr »
2:05pm Wednesday 22nd December 2010

A 24-year-old Hatfield student completed a charity run 7,000ft above sea level in Ethiopia.

Layla Boubker, a fashion marketing student, ran 10km in the east African country raising nearly £3,000 for the charity ActionAid last month.

A regular ActionAid volunteer Layla wanted to take part in the run, and travel to Ethiopia, to find out more about the what the charity does.

She said: “I feel so lucky to have seen the project – it is rare that you get to see where the money that you raise for charity goes.

“It was fantastic to meet the people that are benefiting and especially meeting the girls that are now able to go to school because of the project. It has been the best experience I that I have ever had.”

One of the ActionAid project brings water to 20,000 people which frees the time of woman who would otherwise have to walk miles everyday to collect water.

The run took place last month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, and was put on by Great Ethiopian Run who have been organising events since 2001.

Layla said: “The atmosphere was amazing – it was like a festival. Like Notting Hill carnival with lots of families and school kids singing and dancing in the streets.

“It was a really fantastic day and with 30,000 plus Ethiopians and about 200 Westerners running it was a totally unique experience.”

Layla said she hopes to return to the country and take part in the run again. She is also already thinking about a trek in Nepal.

An ActionAid representative said: “Quite an amazing lady. She raised three grand for the trip and that was while she was volunteering and studying fashion marketing full time and training for the run. I'm just in awe of her.”

Places are still available for the 2011 run. To find out more visit: www.actionaid.org.uk or : www.ethiopianrun.org