In 2007, Adventure Runner and i2P founder, Ray Zahab and and two other runners made history by running 4300 miles across the entire Sahara Desert, and in the process of raising the bar of what we think possible, also raised awareness for clean-water initiatives in Africa. This feat consisted of 111 consecutive 40 mile days of running in extreme desert conditions through six countries. Ray conceived of this adventure after a 333km foot race in Niger, during which he became very attached to the Sahara and its people, the Tuareg. During this run, Ray met a young Tuareg girl who asked him for his water bottle so that she could drink the remaining drops. Ray later came to understand this interaction as symbolic of the profound clean-water crisis devastating the region.
Moved by his Sahara experiences, the team conceptualized running across the entire Sahara Desert - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Ray along with good friends and fellow runners Kevin Lin of Taiwan and Charlie Engle of the U.S. would start this epic journey in November 2006. The run was documented in the film Running the Sahara which was directed by Academy Award winner James Moll and produced and narrated by Matt Damon.
As the runners made their way across the Sahara,and experienced the water issues first hand and its effects on the Tuareg, Ray decided to dedicate his future running expeditions, adventures and life to helping and inspiring children worldwide.
The success of the Sahara run inspired Ray to found i2P, an organization dedicated to using adventure to inspire and equip a generation of young leaders. The strength of i2P's mission, along with Ray's passion and dedication to causes he believes in, has attracted a world-class team of business people, film and entertainment professionals, athletes, and educators who are committed to launching and running this amazing project.
