LONDON: Marko Kasic, a British expatriate and founder of the NGO FundLife, is pushing his physical limits to raise global awareness for children affected by conflict. Running 421 kilometres over ten consecutive days, Kasic is dedicating his challenge to children caught in the devastating consequences of ongoing conflicts, particularly focusing on Gaza.
His ‘Move for Peace’ initiative aims not only to shed light on the suffering of these vulnerable children but also to foster a global response to address their needs for protection, education, and recovery.
The grueling run, which began on November 26, will culminate on December 2, during the Sport and Peace Forum in Monaco. This marks exactly 421 days since children in Gaza were thrust into the horrors of intense conflict.
Throughout this endurance journey, Kasic hopes to connect with global leaders, urging them to act in solidarity for the protection of children in crisis.
Kasic's personal experience as a former child refugee from the Croatian Civil War deeply influences his commitment to child advocacy. After spending a year working in corporate London, he moved to Manila, where he witnessed the transformative power of sport in helping children recover from trauma in one of Manila's largest slums.
This experience led him to establish FundLife, an NGO that uses sport and education as vehicles for hope and recovery. To date, FundLife has positively impacted over 87,500 children in the Philippines by providing education, safe spaces for play, and psychosocial support.
Kasic’s mission, driven by his personal journey and deep sense of empathy, has also included collaboration with global organisations like Unicef and the Fifa Foundation to help build learning spaces and create long-term solutions for children in need.
“The act of running is a small manifestation of my solidarity with every child whose life is overshadowed by conflict. While my suffering ends when I stop running, theirs continues day after day,” Kasic shared.
His dedication extends beyond his physical challenge to his broader mission to amplify the voices of children who suffer silently in conflict zones around the world.
This challenge is also tied to the symbolic ‘Red Balloon Project,’ which represents the universal rights of children. The red balloon pin Kasic wears throughout his run serves as a visual reminder of the innocence lost in conflict and the global community’s responsibility to protect these young lives.
As his journey concludes at the Sport and Peace Forum, Kasic is calling upon individuals, organisations, and governments to support the ongoing efforts to address the long-term impacts of conflict on children.
His initiative is a call to action, urging people to move beyond being mere spectators to active participants in creating lasting peace and security for the world’s most vulnerable.
For more information on how to support the ‘Move for Peace’ initiative and the Red Balloon Project, visit FundLife or follow Marko’s run on his Instagram.
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