‘It’s a step towards hope’: a refugee’s journey from wartorn Eritrea to the London Marathon

Hagos Kidana Abrha, a 25-year-old from Eritrea, transformed his escape from military conscription into an extraordinary journey of resilience by running through deserts, mountains, and continents. Now, he’ll run the London Marathon for a refugee charity, his first full marathon at age 25 after completing a half in just over an hour. Running has been his lifeline, providing escape, strength, and hope despite immense challenges, including being held captive by traffickers and crossing vast deserts to reach safety. He is currently working on resettlement in the UK while fundraising for the charity he helped save from exploitation.