U.S. Olympian Doesn't Bring Home Medal, But So Much More

12 Aug 2012 10:33 Africa/Lagos

U.S. Olympian Lopez Lomong Doesn't Bring Home Medal but Now Part of Half Million Dollar Fundraising Effort

Former Sudan Lost Boy to Join Team World Vision on Trip to Africa In Effort to Help Children Living in Poverty

LONDON, Aug. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- He may have finished 10th in the men's 5,000 meters at the London Summer Games Saturday night but former Sudan Lost Boy Lopez Lomong remains committed to helping children. Lomong, who led near the end of the race, is tentatively planning a trip early next year to Kenya and South Sudan to help children living in poverty. The trip is part of long-term partnership between Lomong's non-profit, 4South Sudan and Team World Vision, a program sponsored by international Christian charity World Vision. Lomong's group is hoping to raise $500,000 to provide access to clean water, health care, education and nutrition.

According to the latest United Nations (UNHCR) estimates, there are more than 660,000 displaced South Sudanese as fighting rages between Sudan and its neighbor, South Sudan. Malaria and diarrhea run rampant in the overcrowded refugee camps. Nearly three children die of preventable illnesses in the camps every day.

At the age of six, Lopez was kidnapped from his Southern Sudan village and held captive as he was being prepped as a child soldier. Too small to undergo training, his fate would most likely have been starvation. But after three weeks, he managed to escape with the help of three other captives. After running three days and nights, they were captured by Kenyan troops and brought to a refugee camp where Lopez lived for 10 years. He was sponsored by a U.S. family and brought to this country where he soon discovered he was the fastest kid in school. At track meets he then discovered he was the fastest in the state. Soon he would become one of the fastest in the nation. In 2008, Lomong qualified for the Beijing Olympics in the men's 1,500 meters. He was voted by his teammates as the flag bearer in the Opening Ceremonies.

Lomong has a new book entitled "Running For My Life" (Thomas Nelson Publisher) http://www.thomasnelson.com/running-for-my-life.html

For more info: 4South Sudan : http://lopezlomong.com/foundation/
Team World Vision: http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR?px=1209501&fr_id=1790&pg=personal
The Impact: World Vision child sponsorship programs establish sustainable, long-lasting programs in the world's most impoverished regions. A $35/month commitment helps provide clean water, improve agricultural conditions and provides educational opportunities for children and their communities.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicate to working with children, families and their communities worldwide by tacking the causes of poverty and injustice. For more information please visit worldvision.org

SOURCE World Vision

CONTACT: John Yeager of World Vision, +1-206-979-0475, jyeager@worldvision.org

Web Site: http://www.worldvision.org

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