British Philanthropist Runs 600 km to Support Filipino Youth Sports
Marko Kasic, the British philanthropist who founded FundLife, a non-government organization (NGO) established to help rebuild Tacloban City after Super Typhoon Yolanda, has recently completed a 600-kilometer run across Luzon. His feat aims to advocate for greater investment in grassroots sports for children in the Philippines.
The run, which is part of the Move Luzon "Run with Purpose" campaign, aims to provide 5,000 underserved children access to running clinics and train 100 DepEd teachers to teach running.
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“If they excel at running or any sport, it could provide them with an athletic scholarship to finish high school and enter college. Running can be an attainable pathway from poverty to educational and economic prosperity,” said Kasic.
British philanthropist Marko Kasic
The philanthropist's two-week run began on July 8 at Patapat Viaduct, Pagudpud, and ended at Metro Manila on July 21. He ran an equivalent of 14 marathons, mostly solo, but was joined by 300 Rockwell Run Club members on the last 21 km and 10 km stretch.
"Move Luzon is my way of transforming FundLife’s vision into actionable commitment steps. Just like our work, it’s about giving to make a tangible impact on the lives of all children. We hope that by showcasing our passion for education and sports, we might inspire others in power to move with us,” he said.
"These kids need significant support because reaching the pinnacle of their sport requires years of dedication and sacrifice. Following Carlos Yulo’s double gold victory in the Olympics, now is the time to turn words into action. Support these young Filipinos from the start; lip service alone is not enough," he added.
Kasic was joined by 300 Rockwell Run Club members on the last 21 km and 10 km stretch of his run.
Since 2014, FundLife has been dedicated to promoting purposeful play and equitable education for marginalized and vulnerable children. Their flagship project, Football for Life Academy (FFLA), aimed to help Filipino children achieve their dreams through football. It had 4,546 children participating in after-school football sessions and classroom sessions by the end of 2018.
The organization is also actively involved in providing safe spaces for children. In Tacloban, the Generation Amazing Community Center (GACC)—an integrated community and learning center for children—will open in October 2024. The 1,200 square meter, community-owned space, valued at approximately 25 million pesos will feature a multi-purpose sports hall, an integrated learning and employment training room, a community canteen, and a co-study and co-working space.
Furthermore, in 2021, FundLife, in collaboration with the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, provided hundreds of Samal-Bajau children with a safe space for recreational and educational play during the COVID-19 pandemic by building the first-ever floating football pitch in the country, located in Maluso, Basilan, Mindanao.
Over the years, the NGO has directly impacted 86,000 children and young people through its programs. Fourteen schools have adopted the FundLife curriculum, 780 teachers and youth leaders have been upskilled, and seven safe spaces have been reclaimed for youth and women.
