Zoditu's Portland Marathon

We are incredibly grateful to Zoditu who completed the Portland Marathon, raising vital funds for Freedom From Fistula. In her latest newsletter she describes what inspired her to take on such a fantastic challenge.

'When I was twelve years old I shadowed an Obstetrician & Gynecologist at a clinic in Madagascar that specialised in providing vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) surgeries for women. VVF is a medical condition caused by vaginal tearing due to obstructed labor. In areas where women do not have access to safe and affordable medical care, women who suffer from VVF are left incontinent. Seen as outcasts, they are pushed out of their communities and lose everything Though my dream is to eventually become an OB/GYN and become a fistula surgeon in my birth country of Ethiopia, I wanted to do something to help these women now. I decided to partner with an organization called Freedom From Fistula and raise money for women who suffer from VVF by running in the Portland Marathon. If you haven't already, watch this video for more details.

The marathon was on October 2, 2022. I trained for three months and posted on social media along the way to keep people updated on how the fundraising was going. On race day, upon crossing the finish line, I raised $1,310 for Freedom From Fistula. This was enough money for one lady to get fistula surgery, post-op care, and transportation money to get home. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Click here to read my latest newsletter