Free to Run

Running outside in conflict-affected areas is inherently unsafe, particularly for young women. At Free to Run, the safety of our participants is our number one priority - and there's a dedicated team working behind the scenes every day on safeguarding activities to make this work possible. Aug 8 is #SafeSportDay, and today we're celebrating these incredible folks on our team who make our sport safe for girls and young women in Afghanistan, Palestine, and Iraq. Free to Run has committed to the International Safeguards for Children in Sport as part of #TeamSafeSport and we're proud to be part of this movement. ❤️

Together, Stronger: Episode 2 ✨ Meet Ali Pottinger, Runner, Mom, Coach, MC, and podcast host. Learn more about what running means to Ali and why she runs for gender equity. Do you run for gender equity? Share your reflections in the comments or via our website: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gZyBTmBU #TogetherStronger #FreetoRun #RunforGenderEquity

This week, Free to Run Ambassador Emily is taking on the TransRockies Run, a 120 mile course completed over six days through the Colorado Rockies. Emily is running this race with a charity bib from Wander Project and she has already raised over $9,000 for Free to Run! Emily says she started running ultramarathons on a bit of a whim but quickly realized what a great source of strength, independence, and discovery it is to navigate miles of wooded and rugged terrain powered only by her own two feet. Ultrarunning also introduced her to a community she now considers essential to her life."The running community is one of the best around! I am beyond grateful for their support of my fundraising efforts for the girls of Free to Run." Through Wander Project, Free to Run has entries to many amazing trail races and ultras like the TransRockies. In exchange for a fundraising commitment, we cover your entry fee into the race. Reach out if you'd like more information!

August is Make-A-Will Month. At Free to Run, we believe that planning ahead is a powerful act - whether it’s preparing for a race or building a future where girls and young women can thrive. Writing or updating your will is one of the most meaningful ways to take care of your loved ones *and* the causes you care about. By including a gift to Free to Run, you can support the next generation of young women in conflict-affected communities - helping them (re)claim space and become leaders who will create change in their communities for years to come. It’s simple, free, and more powerful than you might think. And if you’re based in the U.S, we’ve partnered with FreeWill so you can write your will for free using their trusted tool. Learn more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gktKVMrS #MakeAWillMonth #FreeToRun

Together, Stronger: Episode 1 ✨ Meet Free to Run’s Programs Manager, Sana Mahmud. Sana is a former multi-sport athlete who used to play basketball and football for the Pakistan national team. Learn more about why she runs for gender equity, and why together, we are stronger. Do you run for gender equity? Share your reflections in the comments, or via our website: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gZyBTmBU. #TogetherStronger #FreetoRun #RunforGenderEquity

For the past three years, help alliance, the aid organization of the Lufthansa Group, has helped power Free to Run programs for young women in Iraq. Together, we’ve enabled young women to advance their leadership, agency, and mental and physical health through the incredible power of running. Now, we’re thrilled that this partnership is heading to the Berlin Marathon, with five runners from Lufthansa Group joining Free to Run’s team of 50 athletes and fundraisers on the course. Since 2022, the partnership between help alliance and Free to Run has supported hundreds of young women in Iraq like Lamia, who recently ran her first marathon despite the many challenges and social norms that prevent young women in her Yazidi community from participating in sport. “I used to watch marathons on TV, and I never imagined that I would live in this moment and participate in a real marathon. Since I was young, I have loved to develop myself in sports, and now I have the opportunity. I’ve run 5km races, won first place twice, and in the rest of the races I finished second and third. I’ve benefited a lot from Free to Run, especially mentally. Before joining, I wasn’t social, but after my participation, I became more open, and I made new friends. I am now able to run 40 kilometers, and this was a great achievement for me. I never imagined that I could run this far.” Thanks to everyone at help alliance for this incredible support, and to Nils, Felicia, Fynn, Florian and Benedikt - we look forward to seeing you in Berlin! #FreeToRun #helpalliance #LufthansaGroup

Launching soon 🏃🏽♀️ Together, Stronger will highlight inspiring stories from leaders and athletes who advocate for gender equity globally. Stay tuned for regular episodes across our social media. Learn more about the campaign here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gZyBTmBU #TogetherStronger #FreetoRun #RunforGenderEquity

She showed up to the start line alone. 🏃♀️ No teammates. No coach. Just guts. After placing 5th in her first-ever race with Free to Run, Aryana didn’t wait for the next team event. She signed herself up for a 2km race - a bold move for a young woman in Iraq. On the day of the race, Aryana placed 2nd. 👏 "I was super excited and determined to run with all of my energy and run from my heart. I felt power, and even though I was running this race without my friends, I felt they were present with me in my heart. I remembered the encouragement and support from my coaches and with every step I was telling myself "I can do it!", and thankfully, I did it." ❤️ Today is #SocialMediaGivingDay. If you'd like to help more girls like Aryana take the lead, your post, share, or donation (at freetorun.org/donate) can make all the difference. We're sending massive congratulations to Aryana for showing the world what young women can achieve! #FreeToRun #RunForGenderEquity

Today we're excited to announce the appointment of four new members to Free to Run's Board of Directors! Last December, we received hundreds of applications from across the world and after a thorough selection process, we have appointed four individuals whose values and expertise strongly align with our work. They will play a key role in strengthening Free to Run’s governance, supporting our growth, and helping us navigate the challenges of working in conflict-affected regions. Ruba Sbeah is a Palestinian-American purpose-driven leader in marketing whose work lives at the intersection of brand strategy, sports, and social impact. With over 15 years of experience at Major League Soccer, ESPN, Strava, and Comedy Central, she has built powerful brand platforms and campaigns that deepen engagement, expand inclusion, and help brands grow through resonance. Ruba is a passionate advocate for women’s sports and youth development with a strong commitment to equity in sport. Iain Levine has decades of experience in international human rights and humanitarian work with the U.N., NGOs and the private sector - including at Meta, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF, Amnesty International, and more. He is an experienced advocate, communicator, fundraiser and leader in the field of social activism who has worked across Africa and South Asia, including with communities displaced by conflict. Iain also works as an Executive Coach and as a passionate runner for more than 25 years, he regularly runs races from 5k to marathons. Melissa Mills is a trial lawyer and a lifelong runner. She began her legal career prosecuting war crimes at the U.N. Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. She went on to serve as an Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps where she worked on the ground in Iraq. After her military service she spent a dozen years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. She is currently a partner at Wilson Sonsini in Los Angeles and has run more than two dozen marathons, completed an Ironman triathlon, and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Simon Rosenbaum is a Professor of Psychiatry and Mental Health at UNSW Sydney, where he co-leads the NExuS research group (Nutrition, Exercise, and Social Equity). As a researcher, exercise physiologist, and advocate, he is passionate about using movement to promote mental health and wellbeing for communities affected by trauma and displacement. Simon has worked in over 25 countries, served as co-chair of the Olympic Refuge Foundation Think Tank on sport and humanitarian settings, and founded Addi Moves, a free, trauma-informed exercise initiative based in Australia. We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Leah Anathan, who is stepping down after serving on our board since 2016 and as Board Chair since 2019. Her leadership has been instrumental in guiding Free to Run through a multitude of critical moments in the organization's history. ❤️

Many of the young women in Free to Run programs have been living as refugees or internally displaced within their country since they were very young. Each year, our teams get together to share their experiences on #WorldRefugeeDay and support one another as they reflect on what the day means to them.