His 17-month journey to find a new home took him through Sudan and Libya, over the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, across Europe to the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais, and then to England. The experience was emotionally painful and often physically difficult. He witnessed immensely traumatic events that significantly affected the formative years of his teenage life.

Once in the UK, Seyfu was referred to us by The Red Cross. At last, he had an environment where he felt welcomed, listened to, and supported. Moreover, it became immediately apparent that Seyfu was a talented and passionate runner with outstanding commitment.

His first road race with us was The Oxford Half, where, like all our participants, he started with the fun runners at the back. But his speed and desire to do his best saw him blaze past some of the most experienced runners in the UK, finishing second out of over 10,000. Nearly a year later, he did better still, winning The London Landmarks Half Marathon, beating over 14,000 runners. He is currently ranked as the UK under-20s number 2. In our supportive environment, he’s formed genuine friendships, grown in confidence, and become a leader in our sessions, supporting other young runners, both fast and slow.

Despite his successes and the new life and community he has built for himself in the UK, Seyfu is still waiting to hear if he will be forced back to a country that’s unsafe for him. The worry means he struggles to sleep and often finds it difficult to eat. Still, he believes that once the stress of his immigration status is over, he can focus all his energy on his training. He wants to one day be an Olympic Champion for the country he now calls home. Our team continue to work with Seyfu around his immigration status and wellbeing, ensuring that his voice is heard.