Australian resident, Nick Lawson has decided to bare his ‘sole’ and hit the tarmac in an admirable mission to run the length of Africa… Barefoot! A journey spanning more than 30 000 kilometres. A marathon a day through 23 countries for Run for Love 2018.

While most of us are familiar with the phrase of ‘running for your life’, Lawson selflessly aims to run to spread a global awareness for love! Yes, you read that right, love! Not fame, fortune or any other egotistical reason, just pure love. Run for Love is a sentiment that encourages public participation in movements and causes created to assist others.

This monumental ‘feet’ has seen Lawson pound-it-out from his starting point at Cape Agulhas – the Southernmost tip of Africa, and will continue for 12 whole months until he crosses the finish-line at Ras ben Sakka in Tunisia – the continent’s northernmost point.

Fully committed to his chosen cause, Nick is steadfast in the notion that love is a universal language, that can surpass any doubt and conquer any challenge. “It’s all about belief. I believe in myself, not just for the physical journey but to get the world involved and spread the message of love because once you believe in something with every cell n your body, then magic happens, and things fall into place.”

As part of his mission to share the love – Nick is calling on supporters who have an aptitude for jogging or running, to join him for various legs of his journey. “I want people from every country on the planet to join me… they can run however many legs they want to, and love will link the people and the countries we are running through.”

While some southern African’s might be questioning the love an Australian could have for Africa (given the well-known sporting rivalry that we dare not speak of…), Lawson’s deep-seeded love for Africa was firmly planted back in 2012, when he first travelled to the continent as a volunteer teacher in Kibera, on the outskirts of Nairobi Kenya. “I love Africa: the people, their passion, their struggle… through everything, they keep smiling, they have beauty, they have love. Yeah, there is famine. Yeah, there is war. But that doesn’t bother me because I know that the problems stem deeper than on humans being evil. They aren’t.”

As we speak – Nick is busy running, barefoot, for love, through our beautiful country of Zambia! If you’d like to find out more about Run for Love, and where Nick will be and where you can join him along his route, please visit www.runforlove2018.com. You can also follow his progress and receive updates on Facebook and Instagram, or see his movement live on the live map.

Words by Jess Fogarty