24 May Running with Purpose: Why Prateem is Dedicating his Run to Act4Africa.
At Act4Africa, we’re extremely grateful to have people who choose to run races, marathons and fundraise for the charity. One of those is amazing people is Prateem – who is dedicating his marathon in November to Act4Africa. Below is Prateem’s story, telling us of his running journey, why he’s running a marathon and why he is dedicating this run to Act4Africa.
Prateem’s Story
Every runner remembers the moment they decided to take that very first step. For me, that step was born during a deeply personal and quiet time in my life. I initially laced up my running shoes to focus on my physical health, but truth be told, I was also looking for a sense of purpose. At the time, my wife and daughter were away, and running became a therapeutic way to fill the heavy void they left behind.
Today, I am incredibly grateful to say that my family is back by my side, and that personal void has been completely filled with love and laughter. Yet, what started as a way to cope blossomed into a true passion. I joined running clubs, began participating in local races, and discovered that hitting the pavement not only made me feel fantastic but also gave me a whole new lease on life.
Last year, I tackled my very first half marathon. To be completely honest, I went into it with a cloud of self-doubt; I wasn’t even sure if my legs would carry me across the finish line! My solitary goal back then was simply to finish. Pushing through that final mile taught me a profound lesson about resilience—it made me realise that we are all capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.
This year, I wanted to challenge myself with my “one hard thing”—stepping up to a full marathon this November. But as I looked ahead at the grueling months of training and the daunting 26.2 miles on the horizon, I knew I didn’t just want to run for myself. If I was going to push my body to its absolute limits, I wanted that effort to stand for something beautiful.
That is why I am incredibly proud to dedicate my very first full marathon to Act4Africa.
I’ve been following the work they do in Uganda, and it is nothing short of brilliant. What I love most about them is that they don’t just offer quick, temporary fixes; they genuinely invest in people. They are on the ground helping women build independent lives, putting healthy food on families’ tables through sustainable farming, and making sure little children get the bright start in education they deserve. As a father myself, seeing the care they put into lifting up the next generation touches my heart completely. They are giving communities the tools to stand strong on their own two feet.
Knowing that every painful training run and every single stride I take in November will directly support this life-changing work is the ultimate motivation. When the miles get heavy, my lungs burn, and my legs want to quit, I won’t just be running for a finish line. I’ll be running for the resilient women, children, and families in Uganda who are stepping into brighter futures every day.