Earlier this summer, Tonic reported on Chris Jackson’s mission to bring awareness to the debacle that is the Democratic Republic of Congo. His plan was to run 12 marathons in 12 months. Well, he’s added a few more gigs to his initial scheme, most recently the Ironman UK and an entire marathon on a treadmill at the behest of sportswear brand Asics in their flagship store in London (below). But on August 18th, Jackson, 26, (at right) will be running the most important marathon of his life and what could easily be dubbed the world’s most dangerous. Jackson is going to be pounding the war-torn ground of the DRC for a full 26 predictably unstable miles and 385 yards.
Regarding travel to the DRC, the British Foreign Office pretty much says, “Don’t do it”, but Jackson has invested far too much both physically and emotionally to turn back now.
“I’ve been working towards this day for pretty much a year now and I’ve had a few ups and downs along the way. It’s probably been the most challenging year and rewarding one I’ve had so far.”
Jackson left the UK on Sunday and will first be traveling the border between the DRC and Rwanda and along Lake Kivu where he plans to visit UN refugee camps before his run. He also plans to travel to the frontline of the conflict and through the villages that have been decimated. The actual marathon route, that he marked out himself, will start in Bukavu, travel through Panzi (where Women for Women International has a tile-making factory) and Kavumu (where the organization has an agricultural group as well as a co-op and culinary art group).
The morning I sit down to write about this amazing Englishman and his enormous efforts, an email alert arrives in my mailbox from the Enough Project. They report that The Lord’s Resistance Army (a Ugandan rebel army) has depopulated a remote corner of Northeastern Congo, just North of where Jackson will be running, killing and abducting hundreds of civilians, and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes. An Enough Project Field researcher has documented 51 attacks by the LRA in this particular area resulting in at least 105 deaths and 570 abductions during the last 15 months.
South Kivu, where Jackson will be running, has been wracked by war for the last fifteen years, fueled by the trade in conflict minerals. Sasha Lezhnev, a consultant at Enough, explains that the specific region where Jackson will be running is unstable today, with different pockets of territory controlled by a range of warlord-like armed groups from the Mai Mai militias to the FDLR to independent units of the Congolese Army. There is a major battle over the control of mines and mineral trading routes in the region, particularly over gold.
“In terms of preparation,” Jackson casually explains, “it’ll be no different to the marathons before. The hard part I imagine will be listening to the people of the Congo when we run. I imagine that some stories will be playing strongly on my mind.” The UN has reported that the DRC is arguably the epicenter of sexual violence against women today. This form of warfare has for some time now been a focal point of Jackson’s advocacy work.
Jackson will be traveling with a support group of four friends. Fjona Hill, a documentary photographer; Nicola York, a freelance writer and running companion; Dominic Goggins, longtime friend; and Millie Harvey a producer and camerawoman. Their plan is to produce short documentaries along the way. Apart from the actual marathon, they’ll spend some time talking to a group of men from the Women for Women International‘s Men’s leadership Program. It’s set up for male leaders, whether they be in the army, police, religious, or civil organizations, to help them understand the impact of rape upon women, their families and the community and to help them to act as advocates for change to help prevent sexual violence. The program also helps to ensure women, who report rape, receive help through the justice system.
Hill, a former doctor turned photojournalist tells Tonic: “As a doctor, you learn to switch off to suffering to a certain extent, just enough for you to be able to get on with your job, helped along by the fact you’re physically doing something to help. This will be a different role this time, one of listening and story telling with no immediate fix to the atrocities I will hear about. So it’ll be interesting to see how I cope with what I’ll see and learn.”
In the UK, Jackson has left behind concerned friends and family all of whom are walking the rather
precarious line of wanting to both support and protect a loved one who is courageously driven. One friend relayed to Tonic: “I work in a political environment and was keenly aware of the attitude taken by the Foreign Office and regional experts on travel to the Congo. The problem with Chris is that once you suggest he couldn’t, or he shouldn’t do something then it hardens his resolve to do it.”
Jackson explains: “What is driving me now is that this whole thing is starting to get traction and I don’t want to mess up. I want all this running to be a catalyst for change. I’m going to do everything I can now to make this successful, meaningful and as important as it can be. I’ve never felt so strongly about something. I think I’ve got a lot of people’s attention now and I want to convert this into action and change for the good of the people for the DRC.”
Once a month, Simon Platts, one of Jackson’s housemates, is immediately reminded that it’s “marathon day” when he hears the Rocky theme song blaring in the morning. “I dare say that the absence of this wake up call on August 18th will not be welcome, in this instance, and I will be hoping that he is safe and well somewhere, listening to Rocky on his iPod.”
Tonic will be hearing from Chris after his run in the DRC and letting you know about his incredible experience, so watch this space after August 18.
To directly support women and children in the DRC, visit Jackson’s website.
Watch Chris Jackson running his 7th marathon of the year on a treadmill in central London.
Photo 1 © Copyright Marathon Photos 2010, photos 2 and 3 by Simon Platts.
