Much of life follows a predictable rhythm – getting the kids ready for school, drop-offs, pickups, squeezing in work, dinner, and TV. Occasionally, we break the monotony with dinners out or concerts.
But often, it feels like running on a hamster wheel. Rinse. Repeat. It’s hard not to wonder: is this all there is?
That question found an answer at a Goal USA launch event. Join us for the Great Ethiopian Run and Raise Money for Charity, the headline declared. My heart said yes – go to Africa. But my mind quickly erected barriers. Excuses poured in, each more convincing than the last. The coup de grâce? “My wife would kill me.”
Adding to my hesitation, the US State Department’s ominous DO NOT TRAVEL advisory, which cited conflict, unrest, and crime. Quite the list.
‘I landed in Addis Ababa for a challenge that blended my love of running with a commitment to those in need’
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And yet, I couldn’t let it go.
Decades earlier, as a student, I cofounded The Great Race to raise funds for Ethiopian and Somalian famines. That experience showed me the power of collective action, planting a seed that stayed with me.
Now, I had the chance not to organise a race but to run in one (you can contribute here) – a challenge blending my love of running with a commitment to those in need. I’d come full circle.
Addis Ababa
Escaping the aftermath of the US election, I landed in Addis Ababa with limited internet – a gift that let me disconnect from the relentless post-election news cycle. Alongside me were like-minded ambassadors for the Irish charity, all united by a shared drive to make a difference.
The Great Ethiopian Run, founded 25 years ago by legendary Olympian Haile Gebrselassie, is Africa’s largest road race, attracting nearly 50,000 runners each year. Though only a 10km, the altitude made it feel like a marathon. We’d been warned – add at least two minutes to your average pace; the lack of oxygen will humble you.
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Our group included Irish running legend Eamonn Coghlan, who not only cheered us on, but ran alongside us, offering tips and encouragement. Adding prestige to the event, Kenya’s newly crowned marathon world record holder, Ruth Chepngetich, was also present. I was in awe, surrounded by greatness on and off the track.
Stories from the field
With the race as a backdrop, the real purpose of my trip lay in witnessing Goal’s fieldwork first hand. As Bono once said, nothing prepares you for the “car park of humanity”. The stark reality of refugees and displaced families, forced from their homes by conflict, famine or other crises, was overwhelming. Their poverty contrasted sharply with our Western privileges, faced, as they were, with the choice of eating or dying; every minor complaint of mine seemed trivial.
In West Harerghe, near the Somali border, we visited a nutrition facility where malnourished children and mothers receive care. A group of mothers shared their stories through an interpreter. Tentatively, I asked one if she had any questions for me. Her response caught me off guard: “I have no questions, but you have saved me and my children, and I thank you.” I had done nothing but witness her suffering, yet she was thanking me. Overwhelmed, I broke down in tears, words failing me.
Later, a mother proudly displayed three chickens she had purchased for $3 through Goal’s support. She now had a sustainable source of income, selling eggs at the market. Still stinging from my earlier encounter, I ventured to ask if she had any questions for us. With a wry smile, she replied: “Yes, you’re an hour late.”
And indeed, we were.
In Nagesh, Tigray, a bombed-out ambulance sat outside a Micro Gardening facility (a joint project by USAID and Goal) – a chilling reminder of the Tigray civil war, which claimed nearly 600,000 lives. The ambulance’s driver, a nurse and a patient were inside when it was bombed.
Nearby, two mothers sat on the cracked earth, their faces etched with hunger and fragile hope. One had a cross sign tattooed on to her forehead, a tradition with roots in Ethiopia’s long history as one of the oldest Christian nations: “My mother did it when I was young.”
Their babies clung silently to them, too weak to cry, ribs visible beneath tattered clothing. Their husbands had been conscripted into the army, earning barely $35 a month, leaving the mothers with no means to feed their families.
Elsewhere in the camp, my eye caught a group of children listlessly sitting on a dilapidated playground spinning wheel, its faded colours a faint echo of what should have been a source of joy. I approached and gently picked up one of the boys, who looked no older than three. As I reached to lift him, his frail body startled me; he weighed no more than a loaf of bread, his thin frame almost featherlike in my grasp.
I nearly overcompensated and flung him over my shoulder, his malnourished form a stark reminder of his fragile state. His limbs felt unnervingly delicate, as though his bones lacked the strength to support him, a haunting testament to the cruel grip of hunger and deprivation. He was in the right place now. Help was at hand.
Gambela
Meanwhile, in Gambela, on the other side of the country, refugee camps overflowed with people fleeing conflict in South Sudan. A sea of expectant mothers and children gathered to greet our group, eager to share their stories. Planting the seeds of a brighter future often begins with bold requests.
“Can we have a generator?” one mother asked earnestly.
“Can you send me a tractor?” pleaded another.
In a lighter moment, one of our group members introduced himself, prompting the crowd to erupt in laughter. We were convinced his name translated to something hilariously unfortunate in their language, bringing a rare moment of joy to an otherwise grim setting.
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Ethiopia’s burden is compounded by one million refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. For a nation that has often been described as the “cradle of humanity”, with one of the world’s oldest humanoids, Lucy, discovered here, it’s a shame the country is where it is economically, socially and by circumstance.
Over six years, supported by USAID, Goal has treated 4.27 million children under five and pregnant women for acute malnutrition across 118 districts. Beyond immediate aid, they’ve strengthened local health systems, ensuring communities can sustain themselves in the long term. In Ethiopia alone, they’ve reached 3.6 million people through direct action and partnerships. Remarkably, 99 per cent of Goal’s staff are Ethiopian nationals – unsung heroes delivering hope in the toughest conditions.
It’s easy to give passively to causes, especially when the conflicts and crises feel distant – out of sight, out of mind. Witnessing this work first hand underscored the critical importance of donations. Without this funding, people die – It’s that simple.
Goal USA is already planning another trip, offering a unique opportunity to witness the resilience of those in need and the transformative power of collective action. Experience it for yourself, remind yourself of your own humanity, and discover how fortunate we truly are.
- Mark O’Toole, a UCD graduate, is a New York City-based film-maker and fintech professional originally from Bray, Co Wicklow. His short documentary Outside In is available to watch on RTÉ Player. On Christmas Day, Mark and his kids ran the Goal Mile in Bray. If you’re inspired to join the Great Ethiopian Run next year, visit goalus.org/greatrun for more.
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