Getting to the finish line
10-year-old Izmir Kassam from Calgary was deeply saddened by the devastating news of major earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and Northern Syria the day of his 10th birthday.
Following the devastating earthquakes, more than 57,000 people lost their lives, and the damage to buildings, roads and infrastructure has left millions in need of humanitarian assistance.
Inspired to make a difference, Izmir decided to launch a donation campaign by running for a cause. He decided to run 10 kilometers 10 times (that's 100 kilometers!), with the aim of raising as much money as possible for the Humanitarian Coalition and its members.
"We are so glad that Izmir chose the Humanitarian Coalition for his fundraising initiative. We are all in awe of his dedication and commitment" commented Catherine Dufour, our Stewardship specialist at the Humanitarian Coalition.
Izmir's personal connection to Türkiye, being named after the city of Izmir, and his general desire to help people further motivated him to take action. In fact, it is not his first run for a cause! Last summer, Izmir ran a half-marathon to support women and girls in Afghanistan.
- Watch Izmir and his parents talk about his initiative:
- Read more about Izmir's initiative:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/turkey-syria-earthquake-calgary-izmir-1.6750191
UPDATE: Thanks to his fantastic efforts, Izmir was able to raise more than 18 000 dollars for the Humanitarian Coalition. We are so grateful to have him as a champion!