Martin Parnell

Only two days left of our visit to Benin.

Our travelling party made a number of visits to schools that used the Right To Play programs but today’s visit would be special.

I’m in the West African country with Robert Witchel, the Canadian director for Right to Play, Canadian women’s hockey player Caroline Ouellette and Canadian bobsled athlete Heather Moyse.

We made our way through the crazy Cotonuo morning traffic and arrived at the Vedoko school for the deaf. The school has 120 students and three teachers. Classrooms are on either side of a yard and at one end is an outdoor kitchen.

Martin visite dthe Vedoko school for the deaf. Photo courtesy Martin Parnell

Just as we arrived, the skies opened and it started to come down hard. It was the rainy season, but we had been pretty lucky so far.

We were welcomed to the school by the head teacher and asked to present ourselves. Heather knows signing and she explained she was a bobsledder and rugby player. Caroline demonstrated hockey and the teacher explained ice.

Chalk board demonstration. Photo courtesy Martin Parnell

I took advantage of the black board and drew a stickman and wrote ‘10,500 kms’ next to him. I then drew a picture of Africa and a stickman on a bike and showed my cycle trip route.

Before we began some Right To Play games I ventured out of the classroom. The rain hadn’t eased up and part of the yard was flooding. Down the street I could see water creeping into the tin roofed shops. There’s no real drainage and the water carves a path along the road.

Back in the class it was time to play. All the kids wore Right To Play shirts and the first activity was a three-legged race. My partner was a Grade 1 student named Joseph. I didn’t want to step on his toes so we went slowly.

After the game the teacher signed to the kids the importance of working together. We did balance games and team games. The kids couldn’t get enough of these activities.

Soon it was time to go and bid another farewell.

Saturday was a big day for me.

It was my last day in Benin but also, I was scheduled to lead a marathon for a group of kids.

The furthest I had run in Benin so far was 2.6 kilometres, so doing a marathon just a week after the Comrades and in 30C heat with 90 per cent humidity seemed a bit much. Arriving at the CEG1 sports field, I spotted 25 runners who were waiting for me.

Their leader was Parfaite. She was 26 and was also a member of the Benin women’s soccer team. I asked about the marathon and she said that 30 minutes running would work. Phew!

We ran around the sports field a couple of times then headed out on the streets of Cotonou.

This was a challenge.

Martin Parnell accompanies the Undefeatables on a run through the streets of Cotonou. Photo courtesy Martin Parnell

Motorists and motorcylists aren’t used to sharing the road with runners, especially girls, and there were a few shouts and yells directed our way.

After 30 minutes we’d covered 4.5 kilometres and everyone was back at the field safe.

Parfaite said that the group was planning to start a running club so I asked her what it would be named. She went over to the group and five minutes later returned. She said they wanted to be called the Undefeatables.

After spending five days in Benin that pretty much summed up my feelings. These kids just want to be given a chance.

They don’t want charity or pity. They just want encouragement and a helping hand. Right To Play is doing it’s bit and so can we.

© 2011 Martin Parnell

mjparnell@shaw.ca

www.marathonquest250.com

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