K4L announces 2020 Lesotho Ultra tour
Travel, Run, Change Lives...
We're excited to announce our first tour to Lesotho that will include the opportunity to complete the Lesotho Ultra marathon as well as delivering running sessions to children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Set in the heart of the stunning Maluti Mountain Range of north-eastern Lesotho in Southern Africa, the Lesotho Ultra is a unique ultra distance footrace. Hosted by Maliba Lodge since 2013, the sky marathon is the epitome of high altitude trail racing, held on the rugged mountain foot paths and ancient herder trails of the Ts’ehlanyane National Park. The route includes almost 3000m of vertical gain and sweeping mountain vistas. There is also a 38km mountain run option.
Download information pack including full itinerary
Based on Kick4Life's extensive experience of running football tours to Lesotho, this 9 day trip will include being trained by local coaches to deliver specially designed running sessions to local children. The sessions will include life-saving messages around health education, gender equality and life-skills development. Lesotho has a life expectancy of less than 50 years and over 160,000 children have been orphaned by HIV.
Watch Lesotho Ultra in 5 minutes
Kick4Life Co-founder Steve Fleming said: "Lesotho is a stunning country and we're very excited by the opportunity to take a team of runners to Africa, not only to take on a challenge, but to use their love of running to make a difference for some of the world's poorest children."
The tour will also include the chance to visit a number of cultural and historical sites in Lesotho, as well as learning about Kick4Life's work using sport to transform the lives of young people in the country since 2005. The group will be based at the Kick4Life Centre, which includes a social enterprise hotel and restaurant, before heading to the mountains to complete the Ultra.
Steve added: "The tour is designed so that everyone can participate, from experienced ultra runners to those who simply want to use their love of running to make a difference. Having started running myself last year as a member of Riverside Runners in St Neots, I've personally experienced the very positive impact that running can have, and I look forward to sharing this genuinely unique trip with others who feel the same."
