WASHINGTON, DC, OCTOBER 16, 2015. On November 1, 2015, five runners in the TCS New York Marathon will race to help break the cycle of poverty and support the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), which is honored to be a partner charity for the first time. Inspired by a belief in our shared humanity to help end poverty, the Foundation helps communities in Asia and Africa improve their quality of life. The AKF Run Team members embody that commitment.
All five members of the AKF Run Team are passionate about supporting solutions that build meaningful change for less fortunate families and communities. The team’s members represent life experience from Chicago to India. Together they have raised over $37,400 for AKF projects in Africa and Asia. Along with that, they demonstrate the Foundation’s values of inclusivity and connection, and the idea that we are stronger together.
We are honored by the dedication of these runners to break the cycle of poverty and improve the quality of life for all. With our community partners, they are creating a better future. The AKF team runners are:
• Badruddin “Brad” Jiwani: Brad, who lives in Aurora, IL, ran his first marathon in 2007 and has run six marathons in the Chicago area. He is running for the Aga Khan Foundation to make a difference in the lives of people in Africa and Asia. The 2015 TCS New York Marathon is his way of combining a passion for running with a cause he believes in.
• Adil Lakhani: Adil and his wife are newlyweds from Chicago, IL who want to commemorate their first anniversary with something meaningful for them both. They decided to celebrate in New York with Adil running with the AKF Run Team, a way to show his gratitude and give back.
• Azhar Bande-Ali: Azhar grew up in India, now living in Decatur, GA where he knew the Aga Khan Foundation through its health and education services. Azhar is running the 2015 TCS New York Marathon as a way to show his gratitude to the Foundation for its work. Through his outreach and fundraising efforts, he is sharing the work of the Foundation with friends and family.
• Meegan Napholz: Meegan, a mother of three from New Jersey, has been a runner since she was a teenager. At her first marathon in Boston she learned of the Aga Khan Foundation’s work supporting early childhood development in East Africa. Inspired to give back, she applied to join the AKF Run Team. Meegan is running this race so that young children may flourish in life.
• Shannon Rowley: When Meegan told her sister Shannon about the Aga Khan Foundation, Shannon jumped at the opportunity. Shannon, also from New Jersey is inspired by the way the Foundation invests in people to break the cycle of poverty. She is excited to be running the 2015 TCS New York Marathon with the AKF Run Team to bring change to communities in Asia and Africa.
Read the full press release here
Ismailimail 