A refugee who fled Ethiopia after a decade-long journey to find safety is this weekend hoping he can beat the record set by Sir Mo Farah in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Eskander Turki, found a new life in Belfast in 2019 and also astonishing success as a cross-country runner now competing for Northern Ireland at an elite level. Running has given Eskander a strong focus and he says is excited to continue racing for the Northern Ireland, stating that the sport has helped him in many ways.
Eskander ran for an hour in total darkness the night the military burned down his family home. His mother had told him to run to her brother’s house to find refuge: the military had already come in the night and killed his father and his brother, and he was likely to be in similar danger. That night, the military forced his mother to sign over ownership of their family farm to the state.
