Former refugees Seyfu Jamaal and Kader Seyed to run Berlin Marathon
Seyfu Jamaal and Kader Seyed, two former refugees that have now found home in the UK, will be competing at this Sunday's Berlin Marathon (September 29).
Jamaal and Seyed started their running journeys when they arrived in the country, in 2018 and 2020 respectively, and have developed well in the sport.
With respective personal marathon bests of 2:19:39 and 2:22:44, the duo have been awarded elite places in the German capital.
Jamaal has a strong background in cross-country and on the track, making his time of of 2:19:39 ā recorded on debut over 26.2 miles at last year's Berlin Marathon ā even more impressive.
This season he also won the London Landmarks 10km in 29:41, finished second behind Jack Rowe at the recent Vitality London 10,000, placed fourth at The Big Half and finished eighth at The Great North Run.
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His other personal bests are 13:58 for 5km, 29:12 for 10km and 63:34 for the half-marathon.
Seyed began his running journey in late 2022, quickly becoming one of the UK's top performers in the U23 age group. Despite running for less than two years, 2024 has been a breakout year for the 21-year-old.
As well as his 2:22:44 in the marathon, he's also achieved a best of 15:32 for 5km, 31:51 in the 10km and 67:43 over 13.1 miles.
Notable 2024 races include a 25th place finish at the London Marathon, an 18th place at the Cambridge Half Marathon and a fourth place finish at the Fred Hughes 10 Miler.
Their stories provide hope to refugees across the country and reinforce the power of sport in bringing people together and improving lives.
The duo are both part of The Refugee Run Club, which exists to support refugees and asylum seekers by creating localised running communities across the country.
Research shows that one in five refugees experience mental health issues and the charity uses the power of running to give refugees a sense of belonging, community and support as well as an opportunity to get out and exercise.
As former refugees living in the UK, both Sefyu and Kader can relate to the runners being supported by the charity, having overcome vast challenges to compete at the highest level. They now play an ambassadorial role, inspiring runners as role models within the club.
The Refugee Run Club was set up by Dan Strang, who is also the founder of a running/coaching app called Coopah. The brand will sponsor each of the runners and provide kit and wider support ahead of Berlin.
"As an organisation, we want to better the lives of refugees in the UK," says Strang. "Often we read untruths about how refugees are unwilling to integrate and want to take advantage of not being able to work. In our experience it is the opposite, the refugees we work with want to integrate, they want to work and they want to help others but they are often not given the tools to do it.
"Weāve built the Refugee Run Club because we have seen the positive impact running can have on the refugees, giving them a passion, a friendship and health! Our goal is to grow the club and community. We have the vision of having a Refugee Run Club in every parkrun in the country, so weāre calling on more clubs and volunteers to reach out and offer their support.
"The achievements of our ambassadors, Sefyu and Kader are an inspiration and weāll be cheering them on in Berlin."
Both Seyfu and Kader are also coached and represented by NxtStride Sports.
If the public would like to donate to Refugee Run Club or offer to volunteer or support at one of the regional run clubs, please contact the organisation here.
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