This Woman Is Running 40 Marathons In 6 Weeks To Raise Awareness For The Global Water Crisis

In 2016, the World Economic Forum ranked the water crisis as one of the highest concerns for the next decade. Nearly one billion people already live without safe drinking water. Not only does a lack of fresh water contribute to the spread of disease, but also those collecting drinking water - usually women and children - must walk on average 3.75 miles to do so, and frequently can't hold down a job or attend school as a result. On a political level, the lack of access to water fuels conflict and regional instability, and has been linked to the Syrian refugee crisis.

When she learned of the global water crisis, Mina Guli, 46, decided to take action. On World Water Day 2017, which takes place March 22, she will begin her mission of running the equivalent of 40 marathons down six of the world’s great rivers across six continents in just six weeks.

“We must combat this crisis for generations to come,” Guli said. “Without changes in behaviors and business practices, by 2030 demand for water will be 40% greater than supply. I travel the world to increase awareness and inspire others to believe that every single one of us can make a difference.”

Recently, Guli founded a non-profit called Thirst to achieve her objectives. The organization’s key goal is to educate and engage the next generation of global consumers in using their time, energy, and resources to combat the water scarcity crisis.

Guli said, “ The world’s future and our very lives depend on having enough clean and safe water. Thirst recognizes that of all the water on earth, less than 1% is available for consumption by plants, humans, and animals. Our vision is a future where the supply of water is greater than the demand, where there is enough water for all, forever.” She started the #Run4Water campaign for Thirst last year, running the equivalent of 40 marathons across seven deserts on seven continents in seven weeks.

As a child growing up in Australia, Guli thought she would become a doctor in order to care for sick children in Africa. But that changed when she did not make the marks required for medical school. She began to take on leadership roles in activities, clubs, and the student union – all of which helped shape the leader she is today. She also started studying to become an attorney, a career path she followed for two decades.

Then Guli faced another setback. She had an accident that damaged her back enough for her doctor to say that she would never be able to run again. “I realized this was an opportunity that would allow me to define my own limits,” Guli said. “I started swimming, biking, and eventually running as I strived to prove I could defy the odds.”

While working at Peony Capital, Guli was recognized by the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders (YGL’s) - a group of young achievers committed to changing the world. Here, she was exposed to the problem of invisible water: water that is hidden inside the things we wear, eat, use, and consume every day. That is when Guli decided to make it her life ambition to solve the water crisis. She launched Thirst in March 2012.

“What started as a crazy idea sketched on a whiteboard became a movement that would stretch across the world to China. I was given a challenge by the YGL’s to create a stunt that would capture media attention and help spread the message of Thirst. This is how the #Run4Water campaign was born,” she explained.

Guli loves being able to wake up every day and work towards making the world a better place for all people to live. Communicating the importance of water conservation and educating others on how they can actively participate in solving the global water crisis has become her true passion. “Running marathons to raise awareness for water conservation isn’t something I would have imagined doing when I was younger, but this cause has now become a core part of who I am,” she said.

The greatest challenge Guli faces in her career is getting others to comprehend the magnitude of the water crisis we are facing as a planet and commit to taking action. Individuals can conserve invisible water simply by drinking tea rather than coffee, which saves 120 liters of water, or by buying one less t-shirt, which saves 2,700 liters of water. Guli is also intent on encouraging global companies to modify their business practices and support water-sustainable products.

“As I have grown, so has my passion,” Guli said. “I did not always know where life would take me, and I have faced multiple setbacks on the road to figuring out my purpose. But I never let these obstacles define who I am. Rather, I pushed myself to the limit and defied the odds. My advice to young people embarking on their careers is to not give up when something does not go as expected. There are many paths you can take on this journey that will lead you right to where you are meant to be .”