Who is Idrissa Kargbo?
Kargbo is a role model, an underdog, a humble champion and great sportsman. 22 year old Idrissa has been a runner since he was a small boy growing up in Freetown. He is passionate and devoted to the pleasure
and pain of long-distance running.
"I love running long distances. Running is in my blood. I don't want to stop"
Idrissa was selected for a place in the New York Marathon following his dazzling victory at the 2012 Sierra Leone Marathon. He completed
the race in a time of 2 hours 38 minutes, beating his nearest competitor by 20 minutes. It was the furthest he had ever run and he set a new national record.
In August 2013 he proved his talent internationally and came in second at the Liberian Marathon breaking his own record in 2 hours
35 minutes.
The champ in action: Idrissa smashes his own national record at the Liberian Marathon in August, putting Sierra Leone firmly on the international long-distance running radar. - AP
Photo/Mark Darrough
Global Fashpack is an initiative started by Jo Dunlop, an Australian living in Sierra Leone. This small organisation aims to nurture young talent in the country across sport, arts
and music. We want to help create a new generation of role models by providing young people with opportunities to realise their full potential to shine.
Global Fashpack Director, Jo Dunlop and the mighty Idrissa Kargbo.
Global Fashpack entered Idrissa’s name in the New York Marathon in
March this year. The marathon organisers were so impressed with his story that they kindly invited him to run in the sub-elite group of athletes, which will place him near the start line when the gun goes off, in front of 40,000 other runners. This is an enormous
achievement for someone who has trained in the most adverse circumstances and grown up with extreme disadvantage.
King of the National Stadium: Idrissa at the Sierra Leone's sporting epicentre.
Sierra Leone is a country that struggles to provide its people with the most basic needs. It's therefore no surprise that
there are few opportunities available to athletes to train and compete. They receive very little government and corporate support, making it difficult for young talent to grow. Despite this, Idrissa is 100% committed to his running and trains
everyday. He is a national record holder yet he has no sponsor, he receives limited coaching and runs mostly alone in a pair of second hand trainers.
“I want to run against the world, I want to hold up my country’s flag in New York”
Idrissa has been granted a US Visa and is training relentlessly for the race. His form has never been better and when November comes around he will be all set to go.
"We are looking forward to seeing Idrissa on the start line!"
New York Road Runners - Administrators of the NYC Maratho
Idrissa now needs YOUR HELP and SUPPORT to get to the New York Marathon!
Idrissa's visa is slam dunk confirmed! It was an exciting day when that visa consular stamped his passport.
How will your hard earned money be spent?
The Runner - Idrissa Kargbo
Funds raised through the Start Some Good crowdsource, will be used to cover the costs of getting our champion to the New York Marathon. These include expenses
such as an airfare, accommodation, food, transport, visa and passport.
Idrissa will spend two weeks in New York, including 10 days in the lead-up so he can train in his new environment. He has never left tropical Sierra Leone and the sudden New York autumn temperatures mean that he will need
time to acclimatise and prepare for the big race.
The Documentary
Idrissa’s story is one worth telling; we want the world to know about him and we want to create a new narrative for Sierra Leone.
Through the talented eye of London filmmaker Leanne Welham, we are recording Idrissa’s story in a documentary style film which
is already in the works.
Leanne Welham will go to any length to get the right shot. In this instance she is on the back of an 'Okada' with local celebrity driver 'The
Councillor'.
Leanne started the Running to America project in May 2013 when she filmed Idrissa’s participation in the Sierra Leone Marathon. The story will continue when he arrives in New York to train and then run in
the biggest race of his life. We believe this will be a history-making event that should be documented in a meaningful way.
From the National Stadium to the village, Leanne keeps the camera rolling.
Leanne is volunteering her time to spend a week with Idrissa in the lead up to the New York Marathon on
3 November 2003 and then several days after the event. The end result will be a feature length documentary that we will promote to television networks and film festivals internationally. The big dream is that it will gain strong media interest
and exposure on TV, online and in cinemas. The flow-on effect from this publicity will hopefully generate more interest in Sierra Leone long-distance runners and more financial support and awareness for future Global Fashpack projects. It also means, you as
a donor will be able to witness Idrissa's unforgettable journey.
"I'm exited about the way this documentary is shaping up. I think a really powerful story is unfolding with some unexpected twists and turns. I can't wait to get to New York and film the next chapter," Leanne Welham,
Film maker.
