This week on the Aid Station, we go to Brazil and have a conversation with Roberta Hernandez, Project Manager of Agência Califórnia, a 360 Creative Digital Agency focusing on live marketing, content, technology and digital.

Hear Roberta’s inspiring story as she embarks on a new chapter of her career which is barely a week old after six years fully immersed in the Mass Participation industry delivering events close to her heart.

As a former professional waterpolo player being part of the Effect Sports team that was able to deliver one of the biggest mass participation swimming events in the world last year – the 2,000 participant King and Queen of the Sea brings a huge smile to her face.

On leadership – "it’s all about people" hear her lessons from her first boss and working with the United States Olympic Committee as a client.

In this The Aid Station, we go to Texas and meet Anthony "Tony" Reed, CEO of Caribbean Endurance Sports Corp.  As a pre-teen, he was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic and was told he would go on insulin as a teenager. By the end of last year, he had run over 46,000 miles, averaged three miles a day, and, at 66 years old, he’s still not on insulin. However, he didn't let that stop him from having completed the marathon “hat trick” which consists of completing seven continents, 50 states, and at least 100 marathons.  He was also the first Black man in the world to complete marathons on all seven continents.

On this week's episode of The Aid Station, we travel to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Tanzania as we meet John Addison who was the originator of the Kili Marathon back in 2002 and later the iconic Vic Falls Marathon on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. He said it was a spark of an idea over a cold “Kili” beer after meeting guests who were climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hear how that idea has grown into an experience for 12,000 runners from close to 60 countries and created a massive health and wellbeing impact in addition to an enormous economic impact on the town of Moshi. This year’s COVID-adjusted event in February attracted 9,000 runners.

“When we started with around 250 participants there were perhaps 2-3 runners in Moshi and the surrounding area – there are now thousands. On race weekend every hotel in the town is full, people sleep in their cars and some travel over 125km on race morning to get to the start” says John.

Watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/6nPziN9n1TE

We are thrilled and proud to have reached the amazing milestone of 100 episodes of The Aid Station in just over a year.

To celebrate the milestone with a massively inspiring conversation with industry icon, Hugh Brasher, Event Director, London Marathon Events, makes the occasion even more special.

So many wonderful insights including emotional examples of the immense power of mass participation events to change lives and communities, the heightened role of communication in these times and the importance of self-belief.

Some wonderful insights into Hugh's life, the role that his parents played and his journey from running a small running store which grew into a huge network of stores across the UK to ultimately being handed the reins to one of the most iconic events in the sporting world is certain to inspire.

Listen out for the gold nugget that is so relevant in these challenging times where some of us are frozen by the fear of making a mistake - the vital importance of letting go of the fear of failure and instead seeing it as a huge opportunity to learn. 

Watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/xY2MSTkQcdo

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On our 99th episode of The Aid Station, we travel to Kingston, Jamaica to meet Diane Ellis, Sponsorship & Marketing Director of the annual world renowned Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K event, now in its 20th year.

Listen to Diane's inspiring story as she shares "The Power of Destination Events" not only to showcase the beauty of Jamaica but also how participants from over 40 countries help create a huge impact on local charities. 

Hear how Diane and her husband and Race Director, Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, have created such a formidable team and their leadership principles of leading by example with integrity and love.

COVID-19 has created significant challenges but they have embraced them and delivered a hugely successful global virtual event and are planning for a live in-person event in December.

It sounds to me that the Reggae Marathon and Half Marathon is definitely one for the bucket list.

Watch our conversation here to learn more of Diane's wonderful story and some of the unique elements of the event like crossing the finish line and walking straight into the sea to cool down.

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On this week's episode of The Aid Station, we travel to Sweden to meet Staff Movin, President of the Swedish Mass Participation & Sport Event Association and hear some valuable insights as to how the Association has successfully engaged with Government.

Some of the successes include the setting up of a Government-backed insurance fund and changing the narrative to focus on the health and wellbeing benefits to communities.

Also, an interesting insight into some of the huge events that take place in Sweden across cross-country running and skiing, open water swims and cycling and the successful collaboration between events.

A far reaching and inspiring discussion with a man who wears many hats and has had a huge impact on the Mass Participation industry.

Watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/18LMutMMdu8

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On this week's edition we visit Sri Lanka to meet Hajith Mohamed, Race Director, Arugam Bay Half Marathon & President, Arugam Bay Development Forum in a hugely inspiring conversation which highlights the immense power of being purpose driven.

Sri Lanka is one of my favourite countries, I have amazing memories from my trip in 2001 exploring one of the most beautiful and diverse countries I have been lucky enough to visit.

Listen to Hajith's inspirational story and dreams to build the Arugam Half Marathon into a globally-recognised event, which attracts runners from all over the world to his piece of paradise; and in the process, makes a huge charity contribution to local communities.

Hear the initial disappointment of only a handful of entries for the first event in 2016, the impact of the Easter Sunday 2019 Colombo bombing and the determination and perseverance which now has the event on track to return this year.

Listen to our conversation here: https://youtu.be/XnNTqXTM3ik

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On this week’s Aid Station, we meet Daniel Krutman, CEO of Ticket Agora, the biggest registration platform in Brazil. Hear his insights into "the worst country in the world right now for COVID" with massive infection and mortality rates. 

Be inspired by his hugely positive attitude and lifelong commitment to learning which he passionately believes is "the elixir of life". Be sure to watch to the end to hear his heart-wrenching but uplifting inspiring story of a struggling member of the industry.

A wonderful and inspiring conversation with Alison Desir, Co-Chair, Running Industry Diversity Coalition and Director of Sport Advocacy, Oiselle. 

Alison shares insights from growing up in New York and visits to Latin America to learn about her Haitian and Columbian heritage to some gold nuggets on leadership and inspiration. Hear how she was able to overcome depression and was mentored and inspired by former New York Marathon Race Director, Mary Wittenberg – "Mary has this incredible ability to see that someone has a light shining in them before they see it themselves and has a way of bringing it out". 

Listen for the insights of seeing life through the eyes of her young son, Kouri, and her the excitement of the recent re-location to Seattle with him and her husband Amir to take up the new role with Oiselle.

This is one not to miss.

Watch our conversation here: https://youtu.be/y_9VGKMhKwc

#MassParticipationWorld #TheAidStation 

On this week’s Episode, we travel to Riga in Latvia a small nation of only 2 million people on the Baltic Sea to hear the inspiring story of Inese Kikule, Project Director & Partner NEcom, Nords Porter Novelli. 

Listen to the insights of how Inese and her team have managed the Riga Marathon with 15,000 people and was cancelled 15 minutes before they started road closures. 

It’s a Gold Label event that usually attracts 38,000 runners. 

#MassParticipationWorld #TheAidStation