If water stops running, life stops working.

The world’s future and our lives depend on having enough clean, safe water.
We need extraordinary commitment to ensure clean water for all. This is mine...

 
Mina Guli 6 River Run Logo #Run4water
 

Mina Guli running a marathon a day for 40 days along 6 rivers around the world for the United Nations' GLOBAL GOAL 6: Clean water for all. 

follow the campaign on social media and help us get the message out

#RUN4water

- The 6 River Run Route -

6 River Run Map #Run4water
 

- Follow the journey -

RIVER 1 | North America
22 - 26 March 2017

RIVER 2 | SOUTH AMERICA
28 March - 2 April 2017

RIVER 3 | AUSTRALIA
5 - 9 April 2017

 

River 4 | Asia
10 - 17 April 2017

RIVER 5 | Africa
18 - 23 april 2017

RIVER 6 | EUROPE
24 April - 1 may 2017

the 6 river run IS completed!

Expedition kicked off on world water day, 22 March 2017 in las vegas,
and ended on 30 April 2017 in london

#Run4water

0 km

Distance still to go

#Run4water

1,688 km

Distance completed

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0 days to go

Days left

#Run4water

England

Where is Mina now?

 
 

Join our movement to gather worldwide support for Global Goal 6

Mina is carrying a large flag during her 6 River Run and asking people to sign it as a demonstration of their commitment towards achieving the UN's Global Goal 6 by 2030. The flag & online form with signatures will be delivered to the UN Headquarters in New York after the run.

 
Name *
Name
I support Global Goal 6 and I commit to do my part to ensure availability of water and sanitation for all by 2030 *
 

HAng on...what are the Global Goals, and what is global goal 6?

global goals

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are met, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.

Our governments have a plan to save our planet…it’s our job to make sure they stick to it.

The Global Goals are only going to work if we fight for them
and you can’t fight for your rights if you don’t know what they are. 

- From the Global Goals Website

 
 

Now, let's talk the big talk...global goal 6

Global Goal 6 is focused on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
To illustrate the diversity of water issues, Global Goal 6 has 6 subgoals each focusing on a different aspect of the water crisis. Nifty, right? 

 
 

So, here are the 6 subgoals of Global Goal 6

  • By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
  • By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all & end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
  • By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
  • By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
     
  • By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
     
  • By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes
 
 

Now, let's get going and protect our water!
scroll back up to go sign our flag if you haven't done so already.

- the 6 river run is In partnership with -

 
 

 - AS featured in -

My thoughts on water in the locations I have run through

Featured
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
What I learned from running 40 marathons in 40 days for Water
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
London, #Run4Water Mina Guli
London, #Run4Water Mina Guli
London: Join me!
London, #Run4Water Mina Guli
London, #Run4Water Mina Guli

I have run more than 1400km in the past 5 weeks. Finally, this Sunday, my epic adventure ends on the Thames in London. And I think there is something special about ending on this particular river... 

London, #Run4Water Mina Guli
London, #Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli
Egypt, A Country With Water Innovation On Tap
#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli

Egypt currently relies on the Nile for 97% of its water needs, and global news is that the river is under threat, but this country has the longest history of water management and engineering in the world. How will it use centuries of knowledge to meet the challenge?

#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Egypt Mina Guli
China, #Run4Water Mina Guli
China, #Run4Water Mina Guli
So Long China, and thanks for the fish!
China, #Run4Water Mina Guli
China, #Run4Water Mina Guli

I’ve came to the Yangtze to learn what the Chinese government, together with local water advocates and organisations, are doing to protect the river. At first glance, things do not look good. The air is so polluted that I need a face mask to protect my lungs while I run. But there is reason for hope... 

China, #Run4Water Mina Guli
China, #Run4Water Mina Guli
Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli
Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli
Australia, Home is Where the Hard Is
Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli
Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli

It was a tough run in Australia, my home country, but this environment can bring out the best in us. Australia has made hard decisions about their water use that ensures it remains sustainable.

Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli
Australia, #Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
How did a city in the world's most water rich country run out of water?
#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli

Brazil is the world's most water-rich country yet, Sao Paulo ran out of water for 5 days in 2015. How did this happen?

#Run4Water Mina Guli
#Run4Water Mina Guli
6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment
6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment
Las Vegas, Running On Innovation
6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment
6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment

Las Vegas has used innovation to turn water from a problem into an opportunity. I marvel at how innovation affects the relationship between the vulnerability and resilience of a city’s water management.

6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment
6RiverRun #Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli Comment
#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli
Could you run 1,049 miles for water?
#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli

On March 22, 2017 I will start to run a journey of over two million steps for water. I’m not an athlete. But I am doing this. And you could too. All you need is a big enough purpose.

#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli
#Run4Water, Las Vegas Mina Guli

- FreQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -

 WHo is Mina? 

Mina Guli is a former corporate lawyer, who founded Thirst, a China based non-profit that educates children on invisible water. Last year alone, more than 400,000 children graduated from Thirst!

She is also a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. Meet Mina!


Why water, and global goal6?

Clean, safe, accessible water for all is the most pressing issue of our world faces today. Water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation affects people’s lives, livelihoods, food security, choices and future.
 

What is Global goal 6?

Banger question, mate! The UN has adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.

For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people like you. Goal 6 focusses on water in particular.

The first step to getting involved and contributing to a sustainable future, is by telling everyone about them. So, here we are :)
 

Why these 6 rivers? 

The rivers Mina will run along, bring the issues of Global Goal 6 to life. They vividly illustrate the various world-wide water issues that affect people’s lives on a daily basis.

These problems can be solved with innovation, but only if people are interested and committed enough to re-engineer their lives, companies adopt sustainable best practices (for example, by making more water-friendly products) and governments implement Goal 6 through their national and local policies.


Who takes all the amazing photos?

Our precious... Kelvin Trautman, the outdoor and adventure photographer extraordinaire!

What is the campaign hashtag? 

#Run4Water
 

Where can I follow the campaign?

The #run4water expedition lives on Mina Guli's social media pages. You can get 'em here:

how can i support the #run4water campaign? 

Ah, thought you'd never ask :) Very simple. We're trying to raise awareness of the UN's Global Goal 6. You can help us by showing your support with a click: follow Mina on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.


Why just a follow?

We believe that our global water issues can be solved with innovation, but only if people are interested enough to re-engineer their lives, and lobby companies to adopt sustainable best practices, and make more water friendly products. Thus, the first step to making this happen is building a community. That's you :)  
 

Has Mina done something like this before?

Yes! Mina completed her 7 Deserts Run, where she ran the equivalent of 40 marathons (1,049 miles) in 7 weeks, across 7 deserts on 7 continents. The campaign focused on water scarcity issues. Deserts were great at visualising this story! The 7 Deserts Run expedition finished in the Mojave desert in Nevada. It is thus fitting to have this as the start of this year’s expedition.

Check out the campaign here or scroll down the #run4water hash on Twitter to find the expedition content.

 

Is Mina crazy to do this?

 "...all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw. Need we say more? 

- Expedition media-

All the expedition photos
can be accessed here:

All the video footage
can be accessed here:

 
 

Professional images of Mina
can be accessed here:

Our press releases and Mina's Op-Eds
can be accessed here:

- stay up to date with the expedition -

Name *
Name

- follow the expedition -

For the first time since I started running in March, I feel like I've bitten off more than I can chew. I'm really battling with my legs. They are in so much pain and I haven't been able to physically run since yesterday afternoon. Traversing sand dunes and trails in ankle-deep sand has slowed my walk down to what I can best describe as a hobble. I have to complete 180km by the end of Sunday. But, I'm not sure how I'm going to do it if I can't run... #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
Yesterday I climbed down into the depths of one of Cairo’ oldest buildings to see one of the world’s first water measurement devices. Known as al-Miqyas in Arabic, a Nilometer is a structure that was used to measure the Nile River's water level during the annual flood season. Between July and November, the Nile used to flood her banks and cover the adjacent flood plain. When the waters receded, around September or October, a rich deposit of exceptionally fertile black sediment was left behind over the croplands. This is why Ancient Egyptians called the river “Ar” or “Aur”, which means black. The floods were important to the rulers of Egypt, the Caliph, and the general population. A moderate flood was a vital part of the agricultural cycle; however, if it was low, there would be famine. If it was too high, it would be destructive - washing away much of the infrastructure built on the flood plain. Nilometers continued to be used until the 20th century when the Nile’s natural flows were disrupted by the construction of the Aswan dams, which put an end to the Nile's annual inundation, rendering the Nilometers obsolete. One way to anticipate future climate changes is to understand the past. Unfortunately, good records of temperature and precipitation seldom extend back further than 150 years. But, since the Nile River has been of critical economic importance to both ancient and modern Egypt, officials have gauged its water levels for more than 5,000 years. That’s an incredible hydrological time series! These Nilometers are a remarkable reminder of Egypt’s illustrious past and history of water engineering. Seeing this, I got a real sense of the importance of water to Egyptians. #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
I had just completed my first 10km of my 2nd day in China last week when I heard the news about Cairo. My heart sank. This is a country I have been wanting to visit since I first learned about the ancient Egyptian civilizations in high school. For the next 4 days in China, whilst running, we were on phone call after phone call, consulting friends, family and colleagues about wether we should continue our plans to visit Cairo and Egypt admits the travel warnings that had been issued. 
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting on a train from Cairo to Aswan. I’m struggling to explain my first impressions of Egypt. Since our arrival, the team and I have received nothing but big warm smiles and bear-sized hugs from everyone we’ve met. Egypt and her people are beautiful. 🇪🇬 I’m excited to run along the Nile - the longest river in the world. Her 6,950km of water (which is the equivalent length of 12384 Effiel Towers) travels through 11 different countries. Ancient Egyptians prized and venerated the Nile River. It was their umbilical cord for transport, commerce and agriculture. And with good reason. Egypt is a desert country that has no water resources except for the Nile. And only 6% of the country is arable and agricultural land; the rest of the country is desert. Looking at any map or aerial image, you’ll see that the Nile creates a fertile green valley across a vast desert landscape of North Africa.

Today still Egypt and her 92million people rely on the Nile for an astounding 97% of their water needs. Unfortunately, Egypt has been classified as “water scarce” since 2005. And that’s why I have come here - to learn from the nation who were the first to tame water, about what is being done to save water. #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
This is an extraordinary country; with awe-inspiring landscapes, nature and beauty juxtapose against the economic powerhouse of production. Xiè xiè nǐ China, for your amazing hospitality and for letting us tell your water stories. Running stats: 1,139km down, 549km to go. #Run4Water Follow @minaguli. 📸: @kelvintrautman
"It is like breathing through a straw." I felt that familiar burn in my throat and chest. Having lived in China for 10 years, I knew what it was from. The air quality index reached a critical 168. This is the cost of progress. Also, today I reached the 1,000km milestone. Only 688km to go. #Run4Water #MinaMilestones 📸: @kelvintrautman
Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still. - Chinese Proverb #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
"The only way to define your limits is by going beyond them." - A.C. #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
In 1987 my parents brought my sister and I on a vacation to China during which we took a boat and travelled down the Yangtze River for a couple of days. I still remember the sadness of learning that the river and beautiful surrounding landscape would be changed to make way for the world’s largest dam. The Three Gorges Dam is so big, that when it’s filled to capacity, it will slow the Earth’s rotation—increasing the length of day by 0.06 microseconds! Fast forward 20 years to today, this dam provides power to a large part of China’s population, and drives the production of goods we use all over the world. So, in essence, we are all linked to this dam in some way. It's both remarkable and inspiring to witness the progress that China has made in hydropower production. But, it's important to keep in mind that this progress comes at the price of permanently changing our world. #Run4Water 📸: @kelvintrautman
Beautiful China! 🇨🇳 #Run4Water 📸 @kelvintrautman
"I dream of a river that my children can swim in and drink from, just as I did as a child." Without fail, Mr Li Wei rows his boat up and down the river every day, to collect trash from the water. Running down the Yangtze and meeting people like Mr Wei, I can’t help but feel that most of us don’t realize or understand just how interconnected our lives are to those of our rivers We all have a story or a connection with a river somewhere. For some of us, rivers are a means of transport or recreation. But for the most of us, it is the rivers that produce the food we eat and the products we buy and consume every single day. Over the last 20 years, 55% of China’s rivers have disappeared due to industrial use and over extraction. As our demand for water is growing at an unprecedented rate, now more than ever is a time to protect our rivers. And it's people like Mr Wei who we can all learn from. Rivers can live without people, but people can’t live without rivers. #Run4Water 📸 @kelvintrautman
The 6 River Run is HALF WAY. Hooray! 🎉 I couldn't have imagined any other way to celebrate this milestone than running with the kids from Thirst. They are the reason I run. I want each and everyone of these kids to have a dream they can achieve - and in a world without water, that’s not possible. _______ @thirst_4_water the non-profit I started in 2012 with the aim of educating the world’s next generation of leaders. We run water education programs in schools across China. To date, we’ve had 495,923 kids graduate from the program, and 169,800 kids participate in our water-innovation competitions. #Run4Water Running Stats: 844km complete and 844km to go. 📸: @kelvintrautman