Pakistani Woman Runs in
NY Marathon to Raise Funds for Quake Victims
New
York: Sher-Bano Ali, a Pakistani Muslim woman residing in
New York City, competed in the ING New York City Marathon
on November 6 in an effort to raise her personal goal of $100K
for the devastated earthquake victims in her native country.
She had been preparing rigorously for the race under the keen
direction of trainer Lisa Smith-Batchen, North America's top
endurance athlete. Ali’s training included endurance-building
long distance runs, cross-training, and weight training.
The New York City Marathon is widely known as the world's
largest and most internationally recognized marathon. This
year 30 nationalities and 35,000 runners participated in the
race, which started at the Verrazanno Bridge in Staten Island,
winded 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of New York City,
and finished at 'Tavern on the Green' in Central Park.
Aggrieved by the death and destruction and compelled to assist
her native homeland, Ali set out to do what she knows best
– run a marathon. But the path to becoming a marathoner
has not been easy for Ali. Witnessing her father die in her
arms when she was just a youngster and later, in a freak accident,
crushing all her toes. She has overcome a number of personal
tragedies and even cultural challenges along the way. Sher-Bano
has constantly pulled herself up whenever she was down by
her mantra “Quitting is not an option”.
A role model for young women in Pakistan and in the Muslim
world who are striving to attain equality and proclaim their
rightful place in society, Ali works for a prestigious financial
firm as a professional banker and runs marathons regularly.
While the majority of women in Pakistan continue to live in
cultural subjugation, Ali is driven by their position and
is confident that Pakistanis living in US will match her commitment
to finish the race by supporting her in reaching her goal
to help the victims.
“In recent days, we have all seen stories of overwhelming
suffering in Kashmir and of the crushing effects the earthquake
has had on the lives of millions of people - from the youngest
and most innocent to the elderly and most vulnerable. Please
assist the earthquake relief effort by sponsoring my 'Running
the City' on November 6, 2005," Sher-Bano Ali had requested
before the marathon.
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