2014 Race for HOPE 10K/ 5K/ 1-Mile to support Ebola effort in Sierra Leone

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Aug. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- We are adding an interactive 1-Mile walk for those interested in learning more about the life of children in Sierra Leone.  There will be stations set up along the route where people can perform a task that a child would perform on any given day in Sierra Leone during the interactive 1-mile event.

2014 Race for HOPE is more important to us now due to the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa which has infected more than 2,473 people with 1,350 suspected deaths, these numbers are more than all of the previous Ebola cases in the past.  The event was originally scheduled to help finish the construction of a new library at the War Wounded Academy in Grafton, Sierra Leone.  But due to the worsening of the largest Ebola Virus Crisis outbreak in History and the first outbreak in West Africa and Sierra Leone, our focus for the 2014 Race for HOPE has changed to now include helping to obtain the much needed medical equipment, disinfectants, personal protective wear and other supplies needed to contain this deadly virus.

2014 Race for HOPE 10K/ 5K/ 1-Mile fun run/ walk is on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. at the Mariners Museum Park in Newport News, Virginia. This event is a fun way for families, communities, and businesses to come together and support the children of Sierra Leone, West Africa,” said Saffiatu (Safi) Harper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Share HEART in Africa, Inc.  Safi goes on to say that “we want this to be a memorable experience for people not just another race!”

There will be fun games, face painting and balloons for children during and after the race. The 10K race will begin at 8:00 a.m., the 1-Mile fun run at 9:00 a.m., followed by the start of the 5K at 9:30 a.m.

Saffiatu is a native of Sierra Leone, West Africa; was a track runner for her school Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) and ran several marathons and races while in Sierra Leone. The Lord called her to help her native country in the middle of the country’s civil war while Safi was serving in Germany with the United States Army. Share HEART in Africa works with clinics, schools, and churches in Sierra Leone to minister and support children and families in need. “This is even more important to us now because of the recent Ebola outbreak there.  My dream is to ultimately build an orphanage in Sierra Leone to provide a place of refuge for the under privileged” says Safi

“Originally, we were collecting backpacks, school supplies, and soccer balls for the children in Sierra Leone,” said Safi. Understandably, our focus for the 2014 Race for HOPE has expanded to include helping to obtain the much needed medical equipment, disinfectants, personal protective wear and other supplies needed to contain this Virus.  Please join forces with us to stop this deadly disease!

To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.ShareHEARTinAfrica.org.

Wants to mail your donation?

Please make checks payable to "Share HEART in Africa" with the designation "Ebola Disaster Relief" on the memo line and mail to:

Share HEART in Africa, Inc.
P. O. Box 15692
Newport News, VA  23608

All proceeds from this event will benefit the children in Sierra Leone with educational scholarships, complete a library construction project, as well as ship two large containers of medical and school supplies. Our team in Sierra Leone is currently distributing water purification packages to provide clean water, and has been working with other organizations and churches to educate families to take the necessary precaution to help control the Ebola outbreak.

Race highlights includes:
·      Prayers for our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone including our health care workers and missionaries serving during this Ebola outbreak crisis.

·      Each participate will receive a free T-shirt (guaranteed if registered by August 25th)

·          Awards medal to the top three finishers in the following age groups:
<12, 13-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+.

·      Post-race activities and entertainment include an awards ceremony for participants and activities for children.

·      Prizes will include two $100 Visa Gift cards (raffle) for the an adult and child who raises $100 or more

·      To pre-register and for more information about 2014 Race for HOPE, please visit our race website at www.shareheartinafricaevent.org.

For more information about Share HEART in Africa, Inc. please visit our website at www.ShareHEARTinAfrica.org.