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My background in sustainable development made me aware of  the environmental and social issues surrounding developing countries, especially the ones in Africa. Running for a charity that alleviate water poverty in Nigeria is not just motivating, but  an honour. I  will be running every single mile,  thinking that I am contributing in a little way, to alleviate one of the  most difficult problems facing humanity:  water poverty.

Access to water is a human right & SDG6

With a masters degree in sustainable development, and as a professional, working in environmental data management. Christian understands the challenges posed by the lack of access to safe, clean drinking water and adequate sanitation to developing communities around the globe.

That is why Cristian Patiño is running the grueling Marathon de Guayaquil, a 26.2 mile challenge in his country, Ecuador to raise awareness about water poverty. The global crisis in clean water and adequate sanitation, is summed up by United Nations sustainable development goal 6.

About Christian Patiño the athlete

Unlike the first man to run a marathon to raise funds for Hope Spring, Temi Odurinde.  Christian Patiño is an accomplished international athlete.  He started running aged  7 years.  He first represented his province Azuay in 1992 at the national championship for children aged 8 to 13 years. He won the  200m dash. He also won second and third places in long jump and 4x60m relays respectively.

Other local, national and international athletic events  Christian Patiño participated in over the years follows:

  • He represented his province Azuay, for 21 years and his country, Ecuador for 11 years.
  • His first international appearance was in 2000, in Bogota Colombia, where he  finished third in the 2000 meters steeplechase. The following year, he broke the national 2k steeplechase record, and qualified for his first world championship in Debrecen, Hungary.
  • He ran in the world championship in Jamaica, in 2002, he finished 17th overall.
  • He was a prominent athlete in the national arena, for more than a decade, winning more than 10 national titles in different events.
  • He broke the national records in 2k and 3k steeplechase.
  • He still holds the junior national record for 3k steeplechase. His 3K junior steeplechase record remain unbroken for 16 years. It was set at the South American Junior Championship, where he  finished second.
  • Christian Patiño considers his biggest achievement as an athlete, to be winning the pan American junior championship in Bridgetown, Barbados in 3000 m steeplechase.  He was recognised and highly praised locally and internationally.  In 2018, he was  included in a book titled the “History of Ecuadorian Athletics.”
  • Christian Patiño’s last international race was at the pan American games in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2011. Two Severe injuries forced him to temporary stop competing at the international stage. He didn’t stop there. His passion for sustainable development led him to pursue a Masters Degree in Sustainable Development at University of Surrey, United Kingdom.
  • While Christian Patiño may have stopped competing internationally, he is using his profile and experience as an elite athlete, to raise profile of causes he is passionate about, such as water poverty alleviation. He is the Leader of Halcon Data, an international company specializing in environmental data Management. Halcon Data offers  smart solution to manage risk and productivity in key environmental projects.  Christian is the chair of  a nonprofit running group.
  • Christian Patiño’s last marathons were completed at blistering pace. He ran it at 38 minutes outside the world record.
  • He resumed running in 2017 and participate at the International Marathon in Lima Peru, where he finished 18th out of 15,000 runners – Such a brave way to return to the track.
  • July 2018, he ran in his hometown of Cuenca, in Ecuador. He was the 1st in his age group, and 3rd overall.

 

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Over 340,00 children under the age of 5 years die annually due to diseases caused by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
Source: UN Water

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263 million people spent over 30 minutes per round trip to collect water from an improved water source (figures by the UN for 2017).
Some spending up to 6 hours every day collecting water.
159 million people only had access to surface water, ie water coming directly from a river, dam, pond, stream etc.
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