Jaydee Runs for War Child

The Challenge:

For 12 months (1 year), following the 4x4x48 model created by David Goggins, I will be running 77 kilometres (48 miles) in 48 hours on the last weekend of every month. 

I am running to increase awareness about the dangers and impact of war on children and raise money for War Child. 

 

Why the 4x4x48 challenge?:

This challenge mimics some aspects of living through war, such as waking up and running in the middle of the night, not sleeping fully, or walking/running for days on end.

 

Why now?:

I recently turned 30 years old and wanted to commemorate this milestone with a challenging fundraiser.

 

Thank You!

I hope you will support me on my fundraising and fitness journey by donating today. Thank you for empowering war-affected children to break the cycle of violence and poverty and for cheering me on as I challenge myself to run longer and farther than I have ever done before!

 

About Jaydee:

My name is Jaydee Tarpeh. I am the founder of Xenia Education, a Canadian Startup on a mission to help international students thrive. 

I am from Liberia, but the part of my life that I don't talk about often is that I was born in the Gambia because my family had to flee for their lives. 

My grandfather was captured as a political prisoner. My mother had a chance encounter with her father in jail right before having to escape in the middle of the night that same night.  

While pregnant with me, she walked from Liberia to Ivory Coast and then took a rough bus ride from Ivory Coast to the Gambia, where I was born. When I was two months old, she returned to Liberia, risking her life to reunite with her mother, who had been freed from house arrest and torture that haunts her till today. She never saw her father again.

I grew up in Liberia during the next 13 years of civil war that followed. And like most kids who experience conflict, this has impacted every fibre of my existence.

 

Why War Child Canada:

I am a survivor of war. I count myself lucky because even though I spent the 13 years of my life living through war, I still had the opportunity to attend school. I grew up in a house that held anywhere from 20 to 50 people at a time—expanding and contracting based on the location of the frontlines, the heat of the battle, and the destruction of life and property in a particular area.

As a survivor of war, I count myself lucky. I am lucky to be alive. Lucky not to have been kidnapped and turned into a child soldier or to watch my parents get killed. Lucky to be spared seeing the cruellest deeds of humankind, such as running through dead bodies or being forced to kill your parents.

I feel a responsibility to every child experiencing war today.  

I know the insanity of war and the ignorance of children who play no part in it but are the most affected by it for the rest of their lives.  

I am drawn to War Child because its mission of 'building the capacity of people to find long-term solutions to problems cause by conflict' is close to my heart.

 

About War Child:

War Child is an acclaimed humanitarian organization that has been protecting children from the brutal impact of war and conflict for the past 20 years. Using a bold, community-driven approach, War Child's programs give children the best chance to overcome the challenges of war and grow up to see a brighter future. War Child makes it possible for children to get back to school, protects their rights, and gives their families the tools they need to escape poverty.