Bahrain-based Deena Rahman will join a group of athletes, led by a double Olympic champion, on an extreme African charity challenge to raise awareness about child malnutrition.
Ms Rahman, who plays for the national team and runs a football academy in the country, is in training for her latest sporting adventure which will take place in October.
She will be part of a squad of 30 set up by Britain’s Dame Kelly Holmes for the 2019 Orbis Challenge, consisting of three tough trail runs across southern Malawi.
“I’m so honoured, delighted and excited to have been selected to join Dame Kelly and the rest of the team on this epic adventure,” said the 36-year-old, who lives in Saar with her husband, Paul.
“I was put forward through a football friend and when I saw what it was about I was definitely up for applying for it.
“Having just completed an ultra-marathon, 100km, in May, I was eager to pursue more physically-demanding events to challenge myself.
“This – alongside the work to support the Malawi children, another passion of wanting to help where it’s needed – just ticked all the boxes.
“Lastly, the chance of meeting Dame Kelly Holmes, one of my inspiring idols growing up, just made it even more exciting.”
She was interviewed by organiser Kate Webb, co-owner of Orbis Expeditions, who has lived in Africa for 10 years and now helps run the company from the UK.
Retired athlete Dame Kelly, 49, who specialised in the 800 metres and 1,500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, ultimately had to approve or decline the application.
”When Kate came back saying I was accepted I was absolutely delighted,” added Ms Rahman.
Dame Kelly successfully took part in the initial Orbis Challenge: Sport with a Purpose event last year which involved running, cycling and kayaking, and she was equally pleased to have Bahrain’s representative on board, posting on social media: “So excited to welcome Deena to The 2019 Orbis Challenge Team. International footballer, coach and all round adventurer. Welcome to the team!”
Malawi, a landlocked country in south eastern Africa, is defined by its topography of highlands split by the Great Rift Valley and enormous Lake Malawi.
Dame Kelly’s 2019 team will take on three trail runs through Southern Malawi from October 5 to 12.
They will be joined by Malawian runners for each stage who will act as guides and support crew.
The first part of the challenge will be a 25km steep, rocky ‘Extreme Mountain Run’ of more than 1,000m elevation and might take up to seven hours to compete.
Next comes a 20km ‘Forest Plateau Run’ on plantation tracks with steep rocky descents. Finally, a 20km ‘Lake Malawi Trail Run’ on sandy tracks, hilly terrain, plus village running in temperatures edging towards 40C.
The aim is to raise £10,000 to support the work of the Open Arms initiative to help prevent malnutrition in children.
During Ms Rahman’s time in Malawi she plans to visit various nutrition-based projects and learn more about the vital need for children to have access to at least one good meal a day.
Malnutrition causes 23pc of child deaths in Malawi, while 835,000 Malawians currently care for an orphaned child.
Ms Rahman, who runs Tekkers Football Academy, said the trip was set to cost her around BD2,000.
“If anyone wants to sponsor me that would be amazing,” she added.
During the summer break in Ireland, Ms Rahman has been running daily and has also signed up for a half-marathon in the English town of Seaford.
“Once back in Bahrain, running in the heat will help me for the temperatures expected in Malawi and, I guess, the incline on the treadmill it will have to be as there’s not much mountain-style running in Bahrain,” she said.
Donations for children in Malawi will be collected at Tekkers Football Academy from September 1 or by contacting 37709010 or [email protected].
