Sarah runs to support refugee resettlement in BC

Hello everyone,

My name is Sarah and for the last 28 years, I have been working as an international humanitarian aid worker in over 20 countries, many of them war-torn. I have had the privilege of meeting and working alongside refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and internally displaced people, who had to flee their homes as a result of violent conflict or disaster. Their experiences and resilience humbled me their stories and the circumstances I witnessed with my own eyes broke my heart.

Being uprooted from one's home, family, friends, belongings, culture and everything that someone holds dear and through this, even witnessing and enduring the loss of loved ones is traumatic. Forced to embark on long and perilous journeys, refugees and asylum seekers urgently need to find a place of safety in another country. Making such a journey is a brave and yet very hard thing to do.

Refugees and asylum seekers need to find welcoming communities in their new country and support to navigate through all of the aspects of establishing their new lives.

As an immigrant to Canada and a new Canadian citizen, I take my rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship very seriously. One of these is to help others in the community. This is why, I will run the Royal Victoria Half Marathon on October 8th, 2023 to raise money for the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society.

The Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) is a non-profit organization founded in November 1989 by three former refugees. The centre helps immigrants, refugees and new Canadian citizens, settle and adapt into new lives in Greater Victoria.

The multicultural staff annually serves more than 3,000 immigrants, refugees, new Canadian citizens, and visible minorities annually. VIRCS provides a wide range of services to its target group, assisting them with everything from settling in Victoria to finding a job.

I am to raise a total of $2,110 - that is $100 for every 1 km of the half marathon. Will you help me reach my fundraising goal? Any donation will help make an impact

Thank you in advance for your kindness, support and your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

With peace and love,

Sarah