My Activity Tracking
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kms
My target 42 kms
GIVING SIGHT WITH EVERY STRIDE
Nearly 40 years ago, Fred Hollows saved my father’s eye and gave him back his sight.
In memory of my father and that incredible gift, I will be running the 2019 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on the 15th of September – 42.2kms, accomplished in 50,000 strides to bring eye care to 50,000 adults and children across Africa.
At the end of the day, caring about people is what being human is all about – I believe that was Fred’s motto. This is my way of giving back and helping adults and children regain their vision and a piece of their lives, the same way Fred helped my father.
Help me give sight with every stride.
My Updates
Thank you!
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to our Giving Sight With Every Stride campaign. I am incredibly humbled by the overwhelming support I’ve received. This is the first of many steps that needs to be taken to provide eye care to everyone who needs it. Your support spurs me to train harder every day, and I am looking forward to doing my part to stop avoidable blindness in its tracks! There are 53 days left to the Cape Town Marathon, keep spreading the word! Our collective efforts will make all the difference in transforming many lives!
Much love,
Mohamed
Giving Sight with Every Stride
I do not consider myself a distance runner. Running for hours on end is not something that comes naturally to me. Consequently, when I sign up to run a marathon, I need the inspiration to push me through the gruelling hours of training and the agony of race day.
My first 10 marathons were not easy, but I ran them for my late father. At times, I ran in 35-degree heat until the point of exhaustion, but I wanted to honour a man who worked tirelessly for my siblings, my beautiful mother and myself.
My last marathon I ran to raise money for a motorised wheelchair, so a wonderful young boy could gain independence and mobility. This marathon, my 12th, I am running for another cause. A cause that has significant meaning to my family.
In 1980, almost 40 years ago, ophthalmologist Fred Hollows crossed paths with my father, Abdul Dirani. My father had suffered a serious workplace injury putting him at risk of losing his eye and ultimately his ability to provide for his growing family. With a pregnant wife at home, my father prayed for a solution. That solution came in the form of Fred Hollows.
I understand that Fred was not your typical ophthalmologist - he took risks, he rocked the boat and on this particular occasion, he challenged sceptics by successfully saving my father’s eyesight.
For Fred, my father was another patient who needed his help. For my father, this successful eye surgery was a lifeline that provided him with the healthy vision he needed to support his wife, his ten children at home, plus the additional two who would eventually follow.
What is interesting is that I did not learn of my father’s connection to Fred until I was in my late teens. I was immediately, and continue to be inspired by the fact that one man could have such a substantial impact.
I often think about what life for my father, and our family, would have been like if Fred had not generously taken on my father’s case. What I can tell you is that the limits placed on him would have been significant. His vision loss would have had a ripple effect on my mother, myself and all of my siblings. The impact of that surgery is immeasurable.
The sad reality is that my father’s case is not unique. There are millions of people around the world who need interventions to save their sight. The unfortunate situation is that the vast majority in developing regions will never receive the care they need. My father was lucky; he had recently emigrated from Lebanon to Sydney and had access to a great surgeon. For millions of others, they simply cannot afford interventions like surgery or even a pair of glasses and that is when services are available – which is rarely the case in emerging countries.
I want to give back and have decided to run another marathon. On 15 September 2019, I will run the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in Africa. I will take 50,000 strides to complete 42.2 kms, and in honour of my father, I will donate the money I have raised to The Fred Hollows Foundation. Those funds will help provide 50,000 adults and children in Africa with the eye care they need.
During this marathon, when my legs get tired and my muscles painfully cramp and that little voice in my head starts screaming to JUST STOP, I will be motivated. I will know that with every stride I take I will be helping support vision care programs in Africa that address trachoma, refractive error (the need for a pair of glasses to see clearly), cataract, diabetic retinopathy and also provide sustainable eye care services to rural and remote communities.
I know there are solutions to vision loss. My marathon is about helping people access those solutions.
At the end of the day, caring about people is what being human is all about – I believe that was Fred’s motto. This is my way of giving back and helping adults and children regain their vision and a piece of their lives, the same way Fred helped my father.
Support my efforts and together we will Give Sight with Every Stride!
Thank you to my Sponsors
$104
Han Lam
$208
Pete, Amber, Will And Erin
Well done Mo! With very best wishes from Erin, Will, Amber and Pete
$26
Ash
way to go Mo! ??♂️
$26
Kevin Frick
Great work!
$104
Anonymous
All the best
$30
Aung San Myint
$40
Thanveer
We're all behind you Mo! Wishing you a very successful and fulfilling marathon(:
$50
Sanchez Barry
One small stride for you, one giant leap for Africa! Go Mo, go!
$21
Alex Yue
Hi Mo, good luck at the marathon! Run Mo Run! From Alex Yue
$50
Lauren G
Great job Mo :-)
$215
Moe Bekir
Wishing you every success brother, and may every stride bring you closer to your personal goals. Selam Moe/Lansdowne St, Cafe.
$72.80
Samar Naim
Well done and good luck ?♂️!!
$25
Vanessa C
?♂️?♂️?♂️
$55
Melisa Chong
Glad to be part of this. All the very best.
$55
Anonymous
$55
Courtenay Holden
Mo - you are a FORCE! I feel so lucky to have been pulled into your orbit. I just know you are going to smash this!
$156
Joe Demian
Good luck Mo! - great cause
$25
Anonymous
Best of luck! Amazing cause.
$260
Houssen Holo Dirani
So proud of u May god bless u Love u bro
$520
Gerry Fahy
Great cause Mo. Go for it. Well done.
$30
Delia Chew
I wish you all the best, Mo! :)
$2
Anonymous
$200
Cathy Soufan
$100
Amanda Davis
Massive effort Mo - so inspirational and what a wonderful cause. Big congratulations already - with that crazy training regime, you're sure to smash it!
$100
Cindy Goh
All the best !
$312
Hwee Goh
Can, la!
$26
A T S
Run like the wind!
$300
Govindaraj Kalyanasundaram
Hi boss, Wishing you all the best.
$200
Teik Kin Lai
Go, go, go, Mo!
$300
Eamonn Fahy
Best of luck Mo!! An extremely worthy cause.
$26
Steffi G
$52
Ian Leo
All the best! Stride on!
$26
Brian Cheung
thanks for the share, stride on Mo
$114.40
James Colston
Hey mate. Good luck! and let me know when you want to train!! I'm doing a lot of training for ironman right now and need motivation.
$260
David Lloyd
Inspiring work Mo, go for it!
$110
Yoshi Suwa
All the best!!
$26
Larry Abel
Run fast, Mohamed!
$57.20
Andrew Adriaan
Proud of you. Sorry for the late donation
$110
Michael Weiss
Rum Mo run!
$57.20
Dental
God bless you and your efforts
$26
Zeinab Dirani
$5.2k
Ali Dirani
Brother Mohamed I pray you succeed and continue to make us proud in reaching out to help people
$208
Medcon Developments
Great cause Mo love your work brother.
$55
S Medlej
❤️
$420
Wilson Sam
Run, Mo! Run!
$100
Hussien Ali
Allah Waley altaoufeek
$25
Sophia Papa
$223.60
Anonymous
$57.20
Anonymous
Dr. Mohammad God bless you and your family gd luck brother
$52
Anonymous
God bless you
$520
Sikne Dirani
Love your mum May Allah swt protect you and I'm so proud of you and wishing you all the best, love your parents Sikne Dirani and your father Abdul Hussein Dirani may his soul rest in peace InShaAllah
$31.20
Michael Girolamo
$400
Kelvin Li
Thank you for doing this!
$26
Anonymous
$26
Anonymous
$26
Ali Jaber
I am proud of you Dr. Muhammad. Allah bless you .
$20
Zahra Dirani
Good luck
$114.40
Ahmed Dirani
“The one who has the most blessed life is the one who supports others during his life.”
$2k
Plano Pte Ltd
We are fully behind Mo's self-funded fundraising initiative, which is in line with our motto of "Saving sight and Empowering lives". Go Mo!
$100
Madeline Eng
$208
Khadija Ben Hammada
$55
Stuart Keel
$50
Anonymous
$26
Kulthoom Bee P I Syed Maidin
Good luck
$10.40
Mohamed Ali Sm
$57.20
Anonymous
$215
Bestie
I always wanted to participate in a good cause like this, thanks to making this happen, Bless your heart bestie! GO GET EM!
$10.40
Anonymous
$15
Anonymous
$52
Rima Dirani
God Bless!
$223.60
D Chauhan Pty L
$57.20
Josephine Palermo
Love your work!
$26
Gabi Steenbekkers
Hi Mo, great that you are running for Sight!!! With all your determination you will finish the 42km and 195 meters. That's for sure. Cheers from Holland!
$208
Naomi Michael
Always keep something beautiful in sight
$52
Linda Duong
Great cause...All the best!!!
$31.20
Sam Dirani
Great Charity and Good Luck!
$520
Dwight Fonseka
God bless!!
$26
Jacob Trimboli
$25
Py Lee
All the best Mo!
$114.40
Cliff Chai
A worthy cause. Go Mo!
$540.80
Dazz Kelly
Go Mo you legend. what a great charity !
$215
K T
Its things like this that keeps me inspired every day. Honour to be working with you on this mission.
$114.40
Reagan Foo
Run with the wind, bro. This is a great initiative.
$520
Jonathan C
Running for a great cause
$520
Buzz Palmer
Great cause, huge fan! Good luck
$57.20
Fouad Dirani
All the best brother
$260
Jan Young
Maybe not much time to train, but your determination will see you through. Very happy to support you and see the undoubted benefits you will bring to thousands.
$52
Chris Conway
Smash it mate ?
$104
Andrea Parsons
Awesome Mo!
$104
Bachir El Tannir
Good Luck and God bless. Thank you Gharib Nehme for spreading the word.
$104
Gharib Nehme
All the best Mo, Great cause
$110
Mohamed Dirani
God Bless!
$25
Markus - Tfhf Australia
Mo, all the best with preparation and training for Cape Town.... and if you keep fit afterwards, I may visit and challenge you for Fred at SIN marathon later this year :-)
It's amazing what you do for others! You are truly a role model for others.