The sistertraveller is running a marathon this month in support of the Walk Without Fear Foundation – it’s an extremely important cause and I wanted to share this with all of you.

In her own words:

I’m running the Oct 20 Scotiabank Half Marathon in Toronto to support Mines Action Canada’s Walk Without Fear Foundation. The Foundation raises money to contribute to victim assistance in mine-affected countries, support clearance operations, and improve mine risk education. When I was in Cambodia, I saw firsthand the difference that funding like this can make in vulnerable communities for people with disability. There are at least 1 million landmines left in Cambodia – it’s one of the most heavily mined countries in the world after Afghanistan and Colombia. Even though many of these mines were laid in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and Cambodia no longer has violent conflict, they remain in the ground to this day. As victim-activated weapons, they cannot distinguish whether the person causing their detonation is a soldier or a child – and in peace time, the majority of the accidents are happening to civilians.

Canada had an important role in the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, and worked closely with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to ensure that these weapons are no longer used by militaries. To date, 161 countries have joined the treaty, pledging not to use, manufacture, stockpile, or transfer these weapons. It’s one of the most successful international treaties in the world, but signing the treaty is only the beginning. Because an accident with a landmine is only the first moment of a transformed life. People with disability in places like Cambodia have little support, access to medical care, or opportunities to improve their lives. In supporting the Walk Without Fear Foundation, we can ensure these people receive the support they need long after their accident to live a fulfilling life, we can clear the minefields in their communities, and we can spread mine risk education to ensure other members of their communities will remain safe from these weapons.

Three of my close friends in Cambodia were missing one or both of their legs. One is in a wheelchair, one has never been able to run in her life, and one happens to be a pretty amazing soccer player with his prosthetic.

But I can run, and I want to run to support them.

Your donation to the Walk Without Fear Foundation can go a long way in this support. All you have to do is go to http://bit.ly/rwfdonate, click on “In Honour of”, type in my name [Devin], and then, in the “reason” category, write in “your run without fear.” And then, think positively about me on October 20!