Activist runs to raise awareness about water crisis
Mina Guli has a few marathons left to run in South Africa before finishing the African leg of the Run Blue campaign, after which she will go to Turkey.
Water activist and ultra-marathon runner Mina Guli from Australia reached Nigel on July 25.
The 51-year-old ran her 64th marathon for water just outside town at the Bayer plant in Nigel.
Guli, the CEO of Thirst Foundation, an NPO focused on delivering groundbreaking action on water, is running 200 marathons this year to raise awareness of the global water crisis and to show the urgency of the problem the world is facing.
Inspired by Bayer’s vision of Health for All and Hunger for None, Guli’s Thirst Foundation has partnered with the business for the Run Blue campaign.
“Bayer is committed to making a positive contribution to society and our holistic approach to addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our times includes a recognition of the importance of joining the global action on water,” Klaus Eckstein, CEO of Bayer South Africa said.
“We are proud to partner with Mina and the Thirst Foundation to play our part in ensuring a water-secure future.”
Guli was joined by a group of Bayer employees and representatives on the day to finish the 64th marathon.
Mildred Pita, head of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability for Bayer Crop Science in Africa, spoke more about why this partnership is important for the company and the communities they serve.
“We are very cognisant of the fact that water is the key to health and water becomes the key to even eliminating hunger,” Pita said.
“With drought around the world where we see food systems being challenged and the problem cannot be ignored.
“As a company that not only focuses on health care but also agriculture, we see these challenges and we know that this problem must be addressed and that we must be part of the solution.
“The partnership with Mina on Run Blue speaks to the heart of who we are as a company,” Pita said.
“Many of us here today have seen the first-hand effects of the global water crisis,” Guli told the crowd. “But sadly, many people around the world have not seen it.
“I want the world to see the problem. For too long we have been voiceless, and it is time for us to give the people on the ground a voice, not just to create awareness but to show the urgency of the problem we face.”
One of the goals of the Run Blue campaign is to gain commitments from 200 companies across the world to take concrete action on water in advance of the United Nations Summit on Water in March 2023.
“We chose Nigel as one of our 200 marathons because of you,” Guli said. “Because of every single one of you here today at the Bayer Nigel plant.
“The work that you are doing and the commitment you have made to help us to solve this global water crisis.”
