Sponsor an Athlete
Have you ever witnessed the spectacular performances in the Olympic Games, World Athletics Championships, and major city marathons by East African athletes? Have you ever thought of how those athletes come from some of the poorest countries in the world? Certainly long-distance running has done lots for the economic and patriotic character of East African nations, but it could do more.  In East Africa, running represents economic opportunity, but these opportunities could be better developed, expanded, and organized. Accordingly, Running Across Borders is a non-profit organization founded with the mission of expanding the economic opportunities available to East African youth through long-distance running.
















Presently we are focused on securing funds to support athletes in our training camp, and your sponsorship could go toward that end. Athletes living in the camp can be sponsored for 77 USD per month

52 USD per month

Provides for the cost of training meals in the camp. Using this money, we will first of all feed the athletes a diet matched to the caloric needs of their training, as well as the nutritional composition required for elite-level endurance athletes.

25 USD per month

Provides for transportation to various training venues around Addis Ababa. Having 83 cents per day per athlete will allow the group to train on a combination of asphalt, grass, hills, and track surfaces, thus facilitating a properly-balanced training program and preventing the burnout and staleness that can ensue when an athlete trains on the same course two times per day.

In addition to these basic funds required for daily needs, our athletes will ultimately require running shoes, running clothing, transportation to competitions, and scholarships for their education. Initially we will provide these resources, at a very basic standard, through small in-kind and cash donations that we have already secured. In the future, separate sponsors for each of these items will be arranged.

Profiles of our athletes are available here. The individuals being considered for the camp are listed under the category of developmental athletes.

BENEFITS TO ATHLETE SPONSOR

a) You will be highlighted as the main financial sponsor of the athlete.

b) You will will be supporting young Ethiopian youth in a structured environment who otherwise would not have the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming an athlete.

c) Your athlete, once of the required standard, will be exposed to domestic, regional and international races. Therefore on occasions when RAB anticipates media coverage and/or public visibility you will be specifically noted as the sponsor of the athlete. 

For example:

  • Promotional material produced by RAB including direct-mail brochures, our website, e-newsletters, and applications to charitable grantmakers
  • Press conferences, technical meetings, banquets, and other events on racing trips
  • Media coverage of our training facility in Addis Ababa

d) The athlete will, when appropriate, acknowledge your support in all live and written press coverage

e) If you sponsor an athlete on behalf of a company or organization, the athletes will be available for promotion of this body through appearance at press conferences, publicity events, or filmed or printed materials. Their availability for such events in Ethiopia or elsewhere must be scheduled around their competition and training schedules.  Travel costs directly associated with such appearances must be paid by the sponsor.

f) Charitable sponsorship of an athlete can be pledged in one-year increments for a maximum of 5 years. After that the athlete is expected to become either an elite runner (running at least a 2:11 marathon for men or 2:27 for women), a full-time employee in the running industry, or a university student. At this point she or he will not need living expenses in our training camp covered charitably. However the athlete is expected to continue an ongoing personal relationship with the sponsor who helped her first leave her rural surroundings to enter the Running Across Borders Training Camp.

To sponsor an athlete, please contact Malcolm Anderson or Garrett Ash, and indicate which developmental athlete you would like to sponsor. Sponsorship payments can be made online or by regular mail.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Malcolm AndersonGarrett Ash
Co-Director  Co-Director




EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO EAST AFRICAN YOUTH THROUGH RUNNING
Running Across Borders