Australian ultra-marathon athlete to run across Bangladesh for UNICEF

Australian ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer, who set a world record for running from the North Pole to the South Pole in 2012, will run for a race across Bangladesh. 

He will start running from Teknaf and will cover more than 2,000 km in 30 days over Bangladesh.

Australian company AIS Marine & Offshore and Bangladeshi non-profit organisation Green Bangladesh Green Movement are jointly organising this ultra-marathon to raise funds for UNICEF Bangladesh, says a press release. 

The race will begin as soon as after the novel coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, said the press release. 

On the occasion of the Global Running Day on Wednesday, Pat Farmer sent a video message to the people of Bangladesh as the doe organisation has observed the day in front of the National Parliament House. 

In his message, Pat Farmer called upon the people of Bangladesh to participate in this great initiatives.  

The campaign will focus on the rights of children and women for a healthy and beautiful environment and social values among people from different walks of life. 

In 2020, UNICEF Bangladesh plans to provide adequate safe drinking water to 461,260 people, cooking and personal hygiene; vocational skills training to 293,650 youths. 

Pat Farmer has raised millions of dollars for various charities, including the Red Cross, Lifeline Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia and the Nanhi Kali Foundation etc.

As a former member of the Australian Parliament, he has also played an important role in his political career as Shadow Minister for Youth and Sports and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Training.