We are so delighted to announce that Noel Selorm Adabblah will become our first ever official pacer when he takes to the streets of Cork this Sunday.

Pacing the 1hour 30minute speed in the half marathon (at this year’s Cork City Marathon event) Noel, originally from Ghana, also helps as the Sanctuary Runners’ liaison officer in Dublin.

“Noel is an incredible human being, a great runner and one of the kindest and most humble people you will ever meet. When Eamon Hayes, Race Director for this year’s marathon and also a Sanctuary Runner, asked me if there was anyone I would have in mind to be a pacer Noel immediately came to mind. Its a lovely moment for him, for us as an organisation and for the Cork City Marathon,” said Graham Clifford, Founder of the Sanctuary Runners.

Noel fell foul to traffickers in the fishing industry in Ireland before entering the Direct Provision system. He is now living and working independently in Dublin and is a much-loved and well-known figure within the Sanctuary Runner organisation nationally.

He said this week: “This is like a dream for me to be running with some of the best in Ireland as a pacer in such a beautiful city. And I’m so proud to do it as a Sanctuary Runner. I know I will be motivated by the electric atmosphere and to see so many people cheering me and my fellow Sanctuary Runners along the route. It is the second time I will have run at the Cork City Marathon but the first as a pacer and I am incredibly grateful and excited.”

In all 500 Sanctuary Runners will take part in Sunday’s Cork City Marathon in partnership with Cork City Council. Their mission to show solidarity, friendship and respect with and to all in our community -including migrants and especially Asylum Seekers and Refugees.