Participation doubles for Secret Marathon as runners raise money to send girls to go to school in Afghanistan 

The second annual The Secret Marathon 3km raised close to $18,000 for their partner charity, Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan which will send 53 Afghan girls to school for a year. 

After filming a documentary in Afghanistan about that country’s first official marathon, Kate McKenzie and Martin Parnell were inspired to make a difference in their own country when they realized there are those in Canada who don’t feel safe to go for a run or walk at night.

The race is named after the documentary where the route is kept a secret to avoid being a target for terrorism. To honour those who don’t feel safe to run or walk at night, the route is also kept a secret until just before the event. 

“The sport of running is all-inclusive, an empowering activity, one engaging the runner or walker, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Secret Marathon builds a sense of community during a time in which our world needs more community… a community of people helping and supporting each other,” says John Stanton, Running Room Founder.

McKenzie, national race director, says she is grateful to be working with the Running Room and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.

“From the very beginning, it has been so important for us to build a community. Our mission is to run, walk, and work together for equality, and that is only possible when communities come together to create safe and inclusive spaces in their own neighbourhoods. We hope that The Secret Marathon film and The Secret Marathon 3K will encourage people to believe that they can make a difference and help to create a movement of equality,” said McKenzie. 

This year, the race doubled in size, featuring 16 host cities across Canada, and were joined by virtual participants from 17  countries around the world, including runners from CFB Gagetown.

“We hope in the future to have more veterans be able to participate as so far those that have participated have shared with us that it is really inspiring for them to hear that there has been positive progress made in Afghanistan,” says McKenzie.

Plans have already been in the works for next year’s race, being held on March 4, 2020.

“The sport of running is all-inclusive, an empowering activity, one engaging the runner or walker, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Secret Marathon builds a sense of community during a time in which our world needs more community… a community of people helping and supporting each other,” says John Stanton, Running Room Founder.

To learn more about The Secret Marathon Documentary, or about The Secret Marathon 3K visit their website.