We’re continually impressed by the creativity, endurance and enthusiasm shown by our supporters year after year. This summer, we want to relive some of that fantastic fundraising, so we’re looking back over just some of the amazing challenges you’ve taken on to help build brighter futures for vulnerable children in Malawi.
With the Edinburgh Marathon Festival fast approaching this weekend, it felt like the perfect place to start: celebrating some of our brilliant runners.
In the UK, the running season usually kicks off around April, but that wasn’t the case for Caro. She took part in Ultra X Tanzania in February—a gruelling 220-kilometre race over five days, including a climb partway up Mount Kilimanjaro!
And she isn’t the first supporter to take on an ultra either. In the past, both Adam and Emma have completed distances of 100 kilometres-plus, and supporter Simon will be taking on the North Yorkshire Ultra Challenge in June.
As if running great distances wasn’t enough, Simon T completed the Paris Marathon a few years ago after cycling to Paris from London and Matt ran a marathon through the Norwegian Fjords after a 6.5km swim in the arctic waters!
In recent years, we’ve also had some wonderful groups taking on long-distance races in and around London. This year, four of the ladies who climbed Mulanje last summer took on the London Landmarks Half Marathon alongside Ellie and more than 20,000 other runners. They were treated to beautiful blue skies for a day of fundraising and sightseeing.
Natalie set herself a running challenge too, completing the Battersea Half Marathon in March—and she’s clearly enjoyed her training, because she’s taking on the Great North Run this September as well!
For those that find a half-marathon too much of a walk (or run) in the park, there’s always the full thing: Adam and John have both completed the prestigious London Marathon to raise funds for Open Arms Malawi.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF) takes place over two weekends and includes races of a variety of distances—even the ‘Hairy Haggis Team Relay’! We’ve been lucky to have supporters take on both the full and half marathons in Edinburgh over a number of years, from Stephen back in 2016 to Gregor and Harry last year.
This year, six runners will be lining up across the different events, and they’re doing an amazing job with their fundraising. We want to wish Stella, Harry (again), Ronan, Joel, Mateusz and Melanie the very best of luck, and we hope they have a brilliant race day.
Here in North Yorkshire, we know how special the Great North Run is, and it’s always so pleasing to hear when someone wants to take it on to raise funds for Open Arms Malawi.
After completing the GNR in 2023, Robert and Fiona were inspired to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon a couple of years later. In 2024, a group of friends from Lancing College completed the race, and in 2021 friends Sam and Ross ran dressed as Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men!
We still have two places available for this year’s Great North Run—please do get in touch via the form if you’d like to take on this amazing challenge.
We know what a commitment any charity run is, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has taken on a running challenge for us over the years. We wish we could mention everyone who has supported Open Arms Malawi, but please know how truly thankful we are.
Good luck to everyone running this year (including our intrepid team taking on the Knaresborough Bed Race in June). We look forward to sharing more amazing supporter stories next month.
In the past year alone, our amazing runners have raised nearly £12,000 which is incredible! This alone is enough to provide a whole-years worth of life saving nutrition for 23 new-born babies.
If reading this has encouraged you to take on a running challenge then let us know what you have planned. If you want to run but don't know which race? Have a look at our events page for upcoming opportunities.
Your donation will help children in Malawi grow up healthy with the love of a family
Donate