“I want a CHALLENGE that will help me push my limits while helping others,” Corinne Klajda shared with me in late 2020. When most of us were recovering from the waves of the pandemic, the CEO of Accord Group, a petit but not very athletic woman – signed up for the world’s toughest marathon – 250 km – Namib Desert Marathon; her first marathon.
This sounds like a completely impossible undertaking. But it wasn’t enough. The Namib Marathon was the first of four desert marathons, that she has also included on her list. Atakama, Gobi and Antarctica were next.
RUN FOR GOOD
Moreover, Corinne decided to dedicate her running for good and so her fundraising project “Corinne Runs For Good” started. She started cooperation with Unaweza – a foundation founded by Martyna Wojciechowska and the Polish Paralympic Committee and decided to fund 10 scholarships for 10 Paralympic athletes in the first year. She wanted her campaign to have a concrete impact and be measurable. She wanted to return back the support she once received when she left Mauritius and started her professional career.
OBSTACLES
We were all excited and full of energy. But difficulties were waiting around the corner. “It’s hard. During the race, I had many moments when I wanted to cry and give up. My whole body ached and I was helpless,” Corinne said after the race. However, thinking about Paralympian women athletes gave me strength and endurance.”
It was also difficult to raise money. The companies did not respond to the fundraising campaign in the way we expected. There were signs of disappointment in your conversations. Corinne did not give up. She completed Namib in 2021. In 2022 she did her second desert marathon – Atacama🏅🏅
SUPPORTERS – CHEERLEADERS
A few days ago we gathered at the Polish Olympic Center in Warsaw to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the “Corinne runs for good” campaign. With the support of corporate and individual sponsors, Corinne collected PLN 626,533 for sports scholarships for Paralympic athletes from Poland and Ukraine.👏👏👏
It was a very touching and uplifting moment for all of us. Two years ago, when we first talked about it, it was just a dream. Today, Corinne has already helped several girls fulfill their dreams of Olympic medals.🥇🥈🥉
IMPACTFUL LEADERSHIP
Corinne shows that when you put a greater cause at the center of your actions, you can make a greater impact. And that, for me, is the essence of impactful leadership.
You can still support the “Corinne Runs for Good” project: https://www.unaweza.org/en/komu-pomagamy/corinne-runs-for-the-paralympic-athletes/
Or start your own. I hope this story inspires you to take action.
