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By Kate Daly
Special to the Almanac
Call it ironic or somewhat insane, but a 20-year-old Woodside resident and college student is willing to race for days in the Sahara desert, braving sandstorms and temperatures of over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, to raise money for water.
Trevor Nibbi, a Menlo School graduate and a junior at Dartmouth, is taking this quarter off to train for the 4 Deserts Sahara Race, a 150-mile competition that started near Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 2 and ends at the Pyramids of Giza on Oct. 6.
Time magazine calls the race one of the top 10 endurance competitions in the world due to the harsh conditions and the fact that it is self-supporting. Water rations are provided, but all the racers run and walk over the sandy terrain carrying their own supplies of food, gear and clothing on their backs.
They are expected to cover close to 25 or 50 miles in a day to get to the next group campsite, where they will sleep together in tents and have access to a fire tended by Bedouins.
Mr. Nibbi says he is excited to be meeting so many people from different countries. Out of 157 racers, he is one of nine Americans, and one of the youngest competitors this year.
He has run ultra marathons before, and has spent these past few months getting race-ready by running long distances in Huddart Park up to Skyline Boulevard, as well as surfing, cycling, backpacking and lifting weights.
As a geography major, Mr. Nibbi has studied current international issues. That focus helped him select a cause that could benefit from his efforts. He says his goal “is to use the race to raise money for Water.org — an international nonprofit that works on water security and sanitation in the developing world.”
So far, he has raised more than $2,000.
■ Click here for information on donating to the cause.
■ Click here for updates on his progress during the race.
Gee, he could just join the Army instead.
I didn’t know Woodside residents did things like enlist in the war after graduation.
Well, it does not say say anything about graduating.
Or for that matter, a deferment.
Do you think his parents will fly him first class to London, then on to North Africa?
Really nice the way Woodside kids do things for their country. I know a friend of my was killed on a highway north of the Sahara.
Larry Blyden was his name.Interesting question, SportsFan.
I DID read the WEB LINK and find his cause a noble one which might teach him a lot about the world and its people.
If he enjoys sports and running as much as he does, this will really be an eye opener if he has any background in poli/sci in his studies.
I wish more kids would travel and learn about life outside of San Mateo and its singularly sheltered lifestyle.
Good luck to you, Nibbi.