“A genuinely life changing experience. The time I spent with Street Child has changed my entire outlook on what’s important in life.”
Travel blogger and all round adventurer, Bea Meitiner ran the Sierra Leone Marathon in 2022 and returned in 2023 to take on the pilot of the Sierra Leone Cycle Challenge.
"Running The Street Child Marathon is an absolute must! Everything from the organisation, the insights into Street Child's work, the community and of course the country all makes the time in Sierra Leone very special - The run is beautiful and feels like the cherry on top of an exceptional experience. One of my favourite events of all time. Thank you Street Child."
World record holder and the first man to run a marathon in every country in the world, Nick Butter, loved the marathon so much he came back twice!
"There are some races that change you. That teach you so many deep and profound lessons that you wonder if life will ever be the same again. Street Child’s Sierra Leone Marathon is described as "The Craziest Marathon on the Planet" and it lived up to that description and so much more."
Entrepreneur and founder of 'Too Fat Too Run', Julie Creffield, bought a team of 8 women to Sierra Leone in 2022 to smash stereotypes and take on the challenge of a lifetime.
Local runner and 2022 marathon winner, Osman Charley, told Street Child he was,
“Really proud that Street Child are doing this job to remove children from the street.'
With over 700 local runners taking part in all distances the Sierra Leone Marathon fosters a deep sense of community through one of the biggest events in the Makeni calendar!
"There is nothing to stop you doing this. Yes, you're running a marathon, but you're doing so much more than that - meeting new friends, seeing the depths of such a beautiful country, and you feel truly proud of yourself."
Georgia took on The Sierra Leone Marathon in 2022. It was her first ever marathon and she left with much more than a medal, friends and memories of a lifetime.
"This race changed my life, I met my podcast there, made some life long friends, the beaches are beautiful, the people wonderful and the race like no other. Just go."
Ultrarunner and host of the Bad Boy Running Podcast, David Hellard, took on the Sierra Leone Marathon in the early days and continues to encourage anyone and everyone to take part!
"This is not a life changing experience but a life affirming one. Running in a completely different environment, challenging yourself as much mentally as physically but being able to understand the difference your fundraising makes is so important. A little piece of Sierra Leone will forever remain in my heart."
“The highlight for me was when we went onto the dirt tracks, in the jungle and you could see all the villages and the kids were running with you. It was the hardest part but it got you through, just thinking what a good cause,”
Alex Randerson, who smashed through the course in 3 hours and 28 minutes in 2022 praised the beauty of the course when chatting to Elly Blake from the Evening Standard about his experience.
"I wonder how many people realised – back in 2012 – that the harebrained endeavour that was the first ever Sierra Leone Marathon was going to become such an established, successful and revered fundraising initiative… and a wonderful way of showcasing a beautiful country and the excellent work that Street Child does there? Those of us who have been involved since the outset are immeasurably proud of everything it has achieved."
“What an AMAZING race this was out in Sierra Leone!
This marathon was something a little special.
We followed a beautiful course through the towns and communities of Sierre Leone. All the local kids were out to support us.”
Max Willcocks, Run Coach, ran the Sierra Leone Marathon in 2016 and writes on what a memorable experience it was for him.
