Many take on the conventional approach to raise money for
charities. Mergers are made, partnerships are concluded once individuals reach
the pinnacle of their career success.
However, few individuals realize the vast possibilities and
opportunities that lie in merging talents with business. One such individual is
Maria Conceição, who proved to be a success as she managed to attract more
people to her organisation, the Maria Cristina Foundation, by breaking the 1999
Guinness World Record after being the fastest to finish 7 Ultra Marathons, on 7
Continents in 7 weeks.
Maria Conceição uses a unique method to raise funds through
marathons for the Maria Cristina Foundation based in Dubai which helps
slum-dwelling Bangladeshi children with funds for standard education.
Conceição has ran in (23) different countries for her
foundation raising over (10million) and attracted major sponsors including
Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways took notice of her after successfully completing
the 7 marathons in 7 days across the 7 Emirates walk in December 2011.
When she completed the North Pole marathon, Conceição signed
up an AED scholarship endorsement to the amount of 2.7mil which covered the
education for 5 children from the slums of Dhaka to study in Dubai. All these
costs covered education, transportation, meals as well as school uniform.
Etihad Airways then became an official sponsor, offering free flight tickets to
the children on sponsorships to visit relatives, as well as candidates under
their employment program.
The airline also sponsored the flights for the 777
Challenge. Once she arrived in South Africa, one of the largest
shipment/logistics company in the world, the United Parcel Service (UPS)
assisted with her traveling arrangements.
Maria shared that the foundation's greatest achievement is
in empowering slum dwellers to break out of the development trap and to claim
the dignity and self-determination that they deserve and have every right to.
The bigger the challenges and/or marathons they partook in,
the bigger the influx of attention the foundation received. Maria clarified,
“... what we really need for long term sustainability is partnerships with
corporates or individuals to help us more over a long period .So we have to do
high impact challenges and events to attract their attention.”
She shared that she unfortunately never has the opportunity
to tour and venture into the cultures of the countries she has been. But
despite that, she met great and inspirational people, even whilst competing in
the 777 Challenge. Questioned over her fitness regime, Maria gave thanks and
recognition to RightBite, as well as Up And Running sports that have assisted
her to meet the intense conditions of the challenges and injuries she
sustained.
Despite injuries, cold conditions and traveling, Maria
Conceição made it to the last leg of the 777 Challenge in Venturesbrug, South
Africa.
“To break the cycle of poverty and despair, one has to climb
mountains every sinlge day. My life mission is to do that both on the ground
and every step to the highest peak.” - Maria Conceição
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