Shayle Murray on a run to train for the event. Photo provided by Shayle Murray
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is organizing the “Run 2 End Poverty (R2EP)” this year, a fundraiser for its organization that is a “non-government organization for making systemic and sustainable change in Africa,” according to Shayle Murray, a 1st year engineering student who is also one of the coordinators for the event.
“We have African programs […] and [other] programs we’re trying to bring to campus [such as] the fair trade program, bringing fair trade coffee and products to campus, and raising awareness of fair trade so that people will buy more fair trade products.”
EWB is advocating the annual campus-to-campus run in Kelowna (officially the “Okangan College Half Marathon), which include distances for a half marathon, team relay and a 10km race. Registration lasts until race day on April 1st, and fees vary as the date approaches. The run begins at Okanagan College on K.L.O., and includes a route that goes along Abbott into the downtown core, towards Knox Mountain and back again for the breadth of the entire half marathon distance.
Where does EWB factor into the event?
“Run 2 End Poverty is an annual event that has traditionally been run through the campus to campus,” Shayle commented. To get involved, you can “run it, donate, or you can volunteer.” Runners register first through the R2EP website, which will then direct you towards the proper registration for the run itself. Runners can then create or join an existing team, and then through the Run 2 End Poverty website create a profile and then ask for pledges.
“This is the biggest fundraising event for our chapter of Engineers Without Borders,” Shayle said. It is an exciting time for the engineers at UBCO, since their chapter of EWB was finally recognized this year at the National Conference.
EWB is an international organization that holds runs like this across Canada. Shayle has said that their goal is to try and beat the current record in Canada for runners for the Run 2 End Poverty, currently set at 172 runners by Toronto.
As for the money from donors? It will be safe, and will go towards a good cause. “Engineers without borders is really stressing transparency,” Shayle added. “Through that, I know as a contributor that the money put towards these programs will be used for the maximum efficiency as possible to the rural areas of Africa.
“I’m really excited by EWB’s cause and their goals. And I’m excited by their transparency and very easy forms of communication. I’m really excited to see what race day looks like, because that’s our efforts bearing fruit. It’ll actually be contributing and making a difference in someone’s life across the world.”
