Tonga Marathon 100km

• WHO? | Me! A girl from Liverpool stuck in the south pacific. 
• WHAT? | Running 100km within 24 hours...
• WHERE? | All around the circumference of the island of Tonga. (A convenient 100km distance).
• WHEN? | SOMETIME in July (2021), target finish time: Under 15 hrs.
• WHY? | Fundraising for TAWS.
• HOW?! | Using my two nicely trained legs.

Four milestones I’ve ticked off in 2021 training for my plan to run around the island (100km).

1. Run a marathon

2. Run an ultra marathon (50km)

3. Run 100km total in one week

4. NOT GET INJURED.

I told myself if I can do these 4 things, I’ll do the 100km.

It looked a bit sketchy for a bit, but I’ve actually completed all four of these milestones - so have absolutely no excuse not to do what I’ve promised and run around Tongatapu, the island I’ve been living on for the past 15 months, which is a total of 100km.

For those that knew me before I came to Tonga, I was everything but a runner. Linguist? Party-goer? Traveler? I’m not sure how else you’d describe me!

It’s so bizarre that in my life here, I am the runner. Zoe, the runner?! Honestly something I never thought would be a big part of my life, but it’s played a big role in keeping me sane - and healthy, too.

On my 200 runs in Tonga, I’ve been privileged to be able to enjoy the beauty of this country. Running in bushland, on dirt tracks, coming across horses, pigs, cows, and seeing some of the best sunrises and sunsets. I’m so grateful for that!

The thing I come across on my runs the most, though, is the dogs. Only natural since there are hundreds and hundreds of them just on this small island alone - most of whom want to bite my ankles off.

Pretty much every single run I’ll come across new puppies. And whilst this is ADORABLE, it’s upsetting, too, because the next time I run past the house there might be one or two left. And rarely do these puppies make it to be fully grown dogs. When they do, they’re faced with challenges such as mange, fleas, ticks, worms, Parvovirus, starvation, and being by cars. There are probably more dogs in Tonga with a broken leg or two than ones with all 4 still!

Dogos of Tonga

It’s truly an overwhelming situation where the streets are littered with dogs with open wounds, those so skinny they are just skin on bone, and even dead ones on the street, run over by a car. it just seems like a never-ending task of more and more dogs that are in need of more and more help.

This situation is only getting worse since, with no fully licensed vet in the country, it is hard to neuter these animals - and most of them spend their days roaming the streets. Volunteers who used to come to Tonga to spay the dogs have been denied entry due to the pandemic…

TAWS

BUT amidst all this, there is hope. TAWS (Tonga Animal Welfare Society) was founded at the start of 2020 and looks after all the animals in Tonga. And with the lack of support from other surrounding countries, they have a mammoth task of trying to help as many animals here as possible, as well as educating people on correct care and nutrition. They provide flea and worming tables, as well as food for the dogs for those families who can’t afford it. They also have big plans on education drives AND are currently trying to get a well-needed fully-qualified vet into Tonga.

They’re a small team that completes some BIG tasks in Tonga, and right now, they need all the help they can get…



GET TO YOUR POINT....

Which is why this year, as in 2020, and for the last time, I will be running 100km in aid of TAWS. If 100 people just give £1, that's £100 in total and already that makes a massive difference.

By this date, I will have been in Tonga for, give or take, 487 days. 

Please consider sponsoring me for what will probably be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my life as I try to raise money and create awareness for TAWS and the dogs of Tonga, who have been fabulous companions throughout my stay.

No amount is too small.

(No amount is too big, either ;) )

[To keep it fun, since I’m curious, and I’m sure everyone else who knows me from various walks of life is also curious, in your donations put ONE WORD you’d use to sum me up or describe me. ]

Be nice. 

:)

Thanks and Malo 'Aupito x

(More on TAWS...

Tonga Animal Welfare Society, known as TAWS, was established in 2020 by a group of animal-loving residents to Tonga. 

TAWS want to unite, educate and support the community and will endeavour to find a vet to come and live and work on the island, helping us to keep all animals - dogs, cats, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, bats, ducks, geese and cattle, healthy and safe from illness and pain.

There is no qualified vet in the whole of Tonga. Abroad volunteers from SPAW abroad usually come to Tonga to run one week clinics about 4 times a year, but due to COVID there’s been no SPAW in 2020, and it's unclear when their help will be back.

TAWS provides medication, food, and all-important education on the treatment of dogs in Tonga - a country that uses dogs for meat regularly. 

Society No. 814
For more information, please see their website TAWS Tonga )