Colleagues from Bedford Borough Council are undertaking a 40km charity walk later this month to help a Syrian refugee achieve her dream of running again.
On Sunday 27 October, the team will be attempting to hike the length of the Borough, over 40km, from Stewartby to Shelton.
They are doing so as part of a fundraising campaign, Help Dima To Run Again, which aims to support ‘Dima’, a local Syrian refugee, who has been resettled in Bedfordshire.
Specifically the campaign hopes to raise enough funds for Dima, 24, to purchase a running prostheses.
Before the Syrian Conflict, Dima was a keen runner and would compete in athletics events.
However during a bombing of her local neighbourhood, Dima’s family home was struck and she suffered an injury which would cause her to lose the lower half of her left leg.
“When I was 18 years old, on 13 September 2012, I was at home with my family when a series of bombs were dropped on my neighbourhood,” said Dima.
“The room I was in was hit, and sustained most of the damage… As a result of this attack and the bomb, I was left with a very serious injury that caused me to lose the lower half of my left leg.
“When I woke up from the operation I saw my mum who was crying, though when I saw her I felt comfort. Then the doctor came in and spoke with my mum near the door.
“I heard him say that my mum could buy me an artificial leg but he also laughed and said how expensive they were.
“The doctor came back and said to me “I know you contributed to the running events but now you know you cannot participate anymore”. He explained in such a way that made my pain and reality seem much bigger than my dreams.”
This experience has not deterred Dima however, and now in the UK, she hopes to retrain and resurrect her dream.
To truly achieve this Dima will need a running prostheses, as her current prosthetic leg is not suitable for that purpose.
“I know the war took from me my leg and dream, but it gave me the hope that makes me stronger than before,” said Dima.
Ben Scott is organising the event. He said, “Purchasing a running prostheses is expensive! We are trying to raise £10,000 in total, which seems an almost insurmountable tally.
“The people of Bedfordshire however have already donated over £1,000 and I am extremely grateful for this and truly believe that together we can get there.
“In the words of Dima herself ‘Nothing is impossible’.”
