New president’s 1,000 miles for Yemen...

Maidenhead Rotary Club’s new president is aiming to raise money for the world’s worst humanitarian crisis at the same time as helping protect the environment.
 
Martin Trepte, who took over from outgoing president Mary Spinks on July 1, aims to run 1,000 miles during his presidential year in aid of the Unicef Crisis Appeal for Yemen - picking up plastic litter as he goes.
 
More than 12 million children in Yemen are threatened by war, disease and hunger, and lack access to clean water, sanitation and basic healthcare. The situation is made even worse by the impact of Covid-19 on a country where the health system is on the brink of collapse after five years of war. 
 
A keen runner who has chalked up several full and half-marathons, Martin said: “I’m asking for people to sponsor me to run 1,000 miles for Yemen during my year as president. It’s a very personal commitment for me as my wife is from Yemen and her family is there. Running solo is also a way of fundraising that can’t be stopped by Covid restrictions.”

Martin Trepte will be running 1,000 miles during his year as Rotary president, raising money for the Unicef Yemen Appeal and picking up plastic waste as he goes.

Alongside humanitarian work, protecting the environment is now a priority for Rotary, which has an initiative to stop plastic waste being dumped in our rivers and seas by 2050, called End Plastic Soup.
 
Martin said: “Plastics break down into tiny pieces in our seas and rivers, threatening both the environment and our health. So during my runs I’ll also be doing my bit to end plastic soup by taking a bag with me and picking up litter as I go.”
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To support Martin and for updates on his progress see:
 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/martin-trepte