If you saw a flash of bright green moving through Southampton at this year’s ABP Marathon Festival, chances are you saw Run for Sudan.
A group of University of Southampton students made a powerful debut at the event, bringing together nearly 100 runners from across the university and wider city in support of Sudan. From first-time 5K runners to full marathon finishers, participants came together for one shared purpose, raising awareness and funds for one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises.
The team stood out across the course in specially commissioned green T-shirts, with “Run for Sudan” printed on the front. On the back, a beautifully woven calligraphic design of the Arabic phrase Al Haraka Barakah (“movement is blessing”) was paired with a commissioned graphic showing runners of all ages, from children to grandparents, moving forward together in traditional Sudanese attire.
The campaign was founded by students from the University of Southampton Sudanese Society and quickly grew into one of the largest student group presences at this year’s marathon, bringing together more than 30 societies from across the university.
The day also marked the official launch of Nile Active, a new Southampton-born platform built around movement, adventure, and impact. The initiative aims to bring together runners, creatives, and the wider community through runs, hikes, endurance challenges, and campaigns that raise awareness for Sudan. Nile Active is now active on Instagram and will be launching a website soon, alongside a new and distinctive merchandise line.
The group created a strong presence in the charity village throughout the day, serving Sudanese tea and Ethiopian coffee to medalists and supporters, and building a vibrant space for community engagement. The team was joined by Sudanese Olympian Sadam Koumi, who led their warm-up and started the run alongside participants. British marathon runner Mahamed Mahamed also visited the stand, showing support and engaging with runners.
The campaign has now raised nearly £10,000 across donation platforms, with funds supporting humanitarian aid and essential services in Sudan.
Following a standout debut, the team is already looking ahead to next year’s ABP Southampton Marathon Festival, with plans to grow the initiative even further and welcome more runners to be part of the movement.
Students, runners, and members of the Southampton community are encouraged to get involved in future events and join the next Run for Sudan. All are welcome! More updates, events, and opportunities to participate will be shared through Nile Active in the coming months.
With momentum building and a strong foundation in place, this year’s run marks the beginning of something much bigger for Southampton’s running community.
Find out more at: https://linktr.ee/RUNFORSUDAN2026
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