I was inspired to make this race after attending a week long international journalism fest called Visa pour L'image in France this past September. I was very moved by pulitzer prize winning photographer,Yannis Behrakis', exhibition. Yannis is a photographer from Greece who covered the event of hundreds of people landing on the island of Lesbos, that floated across the sea on dinghies all the way from Turkey and Syria. His images were so strong and showed such compassion through the lens that it make my eyes water to see people in such dismay.  The day after seeing his exhibition, I saw him speak on a panel about his experience photographing these people who landed on the shores of Greece trying save their families from harm, at any cost.

 

 As I was sitting in front of this passionate and dedicated photographer who photographed these people and realized that I was once removed from them.  As a photographer myself, it really hit me. I stood up and asked how I could help. He said that there are many NGO's that I could donate to. I started to think about what my measly $50 could do and began to think about a bigger way to help. Then, as fate had it, I ran into Yannis on the beach the day after the fest was over. We had a great conversation regarding his story over the migrants. I proposed to put on a race to help raise a substantial amount of money for them. He told me, "If you really want to do this, Ill put you in contact with my people and we will help make it happen." 

 

So that is how this race started and I am very excited to be putting on this event. Right now (January 18) in Greece, many are freezing, dying or getting frost bite in the  -20 degree temps. I wish I could get money to them sooner. But by running this race, the money that is raised will go directly to the men women and children in Greece who traveled across the Aegean Sea on dinghies to seek refuge from their war torn country through the  MSF (Doctors with out Boarders.) 

 

I feel that being so far removed from a conflict like this, it is hard to know where to donate because, in reality, many do not know much about such topics in detail and or are afraid to donate because we do not know where exactly it is going or how it is being applied. It is my mission to make sure the money goes directly to the MSF and I have already set up that the MSF will use the money raised to go specifically to the migrants and asylum seekers in Greece for food, clothing, medical care, and the like. 

 

Thank you so much for signing up or donating for this race. 

 

With love, 

Deleigh Hermes