Run the 1 (Rwanda 2024)
Tax deductible
Another year is upon us. Last February found ourselves getting back into the groove in Rwanda again. And so we find ourselves looking to the land of a thousand hills again. Many of you reading this already can figure most of it out because we have been so fortunate to have had your support and friendship for so many years now. Please allow me to share the details for this year. I’ll share a link here for our blog which will get more in depth too.
UBAKA U RWANDA
Ubaka is a home for street children in Rwanda. It is also the home for Evode and Becky Usabyamahoro and their kids too. Everyone is one big family under the same roof. The kids are given everything every child deserves. The hurdles of abandonment, abuse, drug habits, and more are worked through with love and patience. Children that have nowhere to go are safe with us. Children who can be reintegrated with family are supported to do so. Ultimately, these kids are supported to have a successful transition to independence and adulthood one day.
THE FUNDRAISER
The fundraiser has always been about running in solidarity and to raise money for the kids’ school fees and overall living expenses. Over the years, countless friends and family have run together and afar for the cause. It has been 13 years now and we are still going strong. However, we have adapted. The running happens in Rwanda now primarily. The kids join in when they get home from school and it’s a lovely family affair.
WHEN - 4/23/24 Tuesday
WHERE - Kigali, Rwanda
WHAT - I will run a marathon. Evode and others may join me during spurts. I will save the last handful of miles for when the kids get home from school. The lot of us will enjoy the city lights at the local stadium and enjoy a nice walk back home.
WHY - Because it’s the least we can do in honor of so many peoples’ support this year and so many before.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The easiest, best, and least romantic thing you can do is donate here. We are trying to raise $15,000 so we will have enough money to pay the children’s school fees in September and have enough to keep the lights on for the rest of the year and more if possible. The truth is we could use a lot more than 15k. However, rarely have we hit that amount before. The truth is that anything helps and we make the most use of it. Your donations will never go towards anyone but the children and home. We do not use donations for our travels. I have literally lost count of how many times I have been to Rwanda (13?). We don’t take a penny. Other ways you can help is sharing of course. If you feel like running with us, please do so and share a picture or something! Consider joining us next year in Rwanda. We suspect April/May time. But, yes, we need donations, and I truly despise to ask every year, but I also know the kids need it and are the most deserving out there.
MISC
While we are there, you can bet on us spending quality time with the kids, playing pitiful soccer, laughing at ourselves, and attempting to help cook and clean with the best of them. We have plans to visit our alumni who we now have many scattered over the country and beyond. Our last weekend, we plan to have a celebration inviting all of our “children” and their families. We really want to put a scope on the full circle we have achieved over the years. Look forward to that with us!
THANK YOU
If you made it this far, above all else, there is always gratitude. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Please know you are supporting some truly amazing kids and I will do my best to make sure you see that. Please, never hesitate to reach out if you’d like more stories, information, or anything.
KOMERA - Be Strong
Shaun Sullivan
Organiser
Ubaka U Rwanda
Registered charity
Donations are typically 100% tax-deductible in the US.
