Maria Conceicao receives two Guinness World Records for Ultramarathon efforts

Sport360 staff 16:05 24/06/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • No pain no gain: Conceicao poses alongside the group of children that her charity supports.

    Dubai-based charity founder Maria Conceicao has received the official confirmation of her double world record success from Guinness World Records after conquering the 777 Ultramarathon Challenge. 

    The Ultramarathon is a seven full-distance 50km run completed accross the seven continents within seven weeks.

    Not only did Conceicao complete the challenge, she did so in just six weeks.

    She crossed the line of the final ultramarathon in South Africa together with her race colleague Ziyad Rahim, who gained the same record in the male category.

    The Porgugal native secured her second record for the fastest aggregate time to complete an ultramarathon on seven continents. 

    Conceicao completed the challenge for her charity, the Maria Cristina Foundation (MCF), which helps educate children in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in an attempt to free them from poverty. 

    The first Portugese woman to summit Mount Everest, Conceicao has taken a number of other endurance challenges in the past, all aimed at raising awareness and funds for the organisation. 

    MCF currently supports over 200 children from the slums of Dhaka, in primary, secondary and college education programs.

    The group sends children with the most promising potential to schools in Dhaka that provide higher quality and which could give the children the best possible opportunities to break out of poverty.

    The 777 Ultramarathon Challenge has certainly raised awareness of the Foundation and its work, but the charity remains in urgent need of funds to help more children stay in school and continue their education. 

    Appealing for help in supporting the group’s cause, Maria said: “The Foundation is hugely grateful for donations from generous individuals who have been our saviors, but we really need more corporate partners to support our work. There are a lot of companies who can be potential partners, and we appeal to them to consider working with us as part of their CSR program.

    "We know that many are one with us in believing that education is the best way to eradicate poverty. Education empowers children with the hope and tool to dream bigger and achieve more, not only for themselves but for their families and the communities they live in. 

    "MCF has the experience and knowledge required to provide the maximum social impact from any financial support from a partner, so we do hope you consider placing your trust in us.”  

    Recommended