'Marathon man ' receives ABCC co-presidents ' award
Haroon Mota, known by many as the 'Marathon Man ' is a runner, community activist, mountaineer, founder of Active Inclusion Network, and this year 's recipient of the ABCC co-presidents ' award.
Haroon is an adventure and thrill seeking Athlete who has for over a decade been setting himself ambitious fundraising challenges; running multi marathons and climbing mountains around the world, raising millions of pounds for charity and inspiring so many from the British Asian Community to follow in his footsteps.
Being a man of many talents and the European kickboxing champ at age 17, Haroon studied sports and exercise science from Coventry university. He is well known to the Foleshill community of Coventry by working to improve the health and wellbeing of the locals.
Haroon has a strong passion for increasing diversity and inclusion in outdoor fitness, which led him to create the Active Inclusion Network and launching projects such as Muslim Hikers, which has rapidly grown to become the largest community in the world for Muslims interested in the Outdoors.
The organisation now hosts an extensive monthly hiking programme recognized to be the largest known regular walking events in the country; promoting safety, confidence and awareness of the outdoors.
Over the years, Haroon has helped raised millions of pounds for charity and is a great advocate for humanitarian causes. His fundraising adventures have seen him run marathons and climb mountains all around the world.
He has lead successful fundraising expeditions for British Muslim Charities by hiking Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu in Peru and raised a phenomenal £250,000 for the Rohingya crisis by leading 18 British Muslim Women on a trek to Mount Everest Basecamp.
During lockdown, after his World Major Marathons plans were cancelled, Haroon set himself an alternative challenge, running a total of 260km during the month of Ramadan whilst fasting. He inspired a nation whilst raising over £80,000 for the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
Most recently Haroon was awarded the Spirit of London Marathon Award for his fundraising excellence and his running commitments which have seen him run 10 London Marathons in the last 10 years.
Speaking about the receiving the co-presidents award, Haroon said: “A huge thank you for the ABCC co-presidents for offering me this award. Nothing is more important than wellbeing. We don 't have the outdoors and fitness embedded in us and that 's what I have been working on. Try to get outside a little bit more and remind yourself of how blessed you are! ”
Haroon, along with fellow Muslim hikers faced backlash and racist comments on social media when he organised a hike in the peak district during past Christmas day. He was targeted again when he appeared in BBC 's documentary Countryfile.
Haroon commented on the racism and backlash he received: “This type of abuse we receive very much motivates and gives us further validation and justification for why our work is so important, its still rather hurtful and damaging with regards to the work that we are trying to achieve.
“We must all stand together as a community and work against this type of abuse and against any people who try to create such divisions with hateful remarks. ”
Speaking about the award, ABCC co-presidents Omar Rashid and Amina Hussain said: “As Presidents, it was difficult to select an individual to give this award as there were many notable people for us to consider.
“However, both of us have followed Haroon 's journey since the formulation of the Active Inclusion Network, including the backlash received from locals from one of the hikes he had arranged. However, the drive, passion and determination to create an online community of over 50,000 people as well as regular walks and hikes were so commendable that we had no hesitation to present the Presidents Award to Haroon. ”
Pictured: Haroon Mota (middle) with ABCC co-presidents Omar Rashid (left) and Amina Hussain (right)