GOAL USA Sets Off for 2025 Great Ethiopian Run Challenge   

Today the humanitarian organization GOAL USA announced its Great Ethiopian Run Team, who will take part in the annual 10-kilometer run on November 23rd, 2025 in Addis Ababa. The group of 20 runners is aiming to complete the challenge, which includes both the run and the goal of raising at least $300,000 to support the organization’s programs worldwide.

The Great Ethiopian Run is known for its vibrant atmosphere and has been called ‘Ethiopia’s biggest street party,’ and named ‘The World’s Best 10k’ by Runner’s World Magazine. It was founded in 2001 by Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie and attracts some 40,000 runners from around the world each year. This year, GOAL USA is proud to join the ranks of participants marking the Run’s 25th anniversary.

Each member of the GOAL USA team pledges to raise at least $10,000. They will travel to Ethiopia five days prior to the run, during that time visiting communities GOAL works with, meeting people their efforts will impact, in and around Addis Ababa, and in the regions of Tigray to the country’s north, and Gambella, in the west. 

The GOAL team is led by two Irish running legends: 1976 and 1980 Olympian Eamonn Coghlan, the former world champion at 5,000 meters and one-time indoor mile record holder; and David Gillick, 2008 Olympian, two-time European 400-meter champion and renowned sports commentator and personality. They’ll be joined by GOAL USA Board members and tech founders Ronan Ryan, co-founder and COO of IEX, and Conor Twomey, CEO co-founder of AI One. Rounding out the team will be 16 more GOAL supporters from various backgrounds and across the US.  

Last year, GOAL’s team brought 10 runners to Addis Ababa, raising nearly $200,000, which supported the organization’s work in Ethiopia and beyond. 

Eamonn Coghlan said,

“The Great Ethiopian Run is a tribute to the Ethiopian spirit and to the country’s great running culture, personified by my friend Haile. GOAL’s role as a leading first responder and development partner over four decades there is powered by hundreds of Ethiopian staff members, who make up 99% of the GOAL team. So, it’s only natural that GOAL should join the Run and use it as an opportunity to do even more good.  I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.” 

David Gillick added,

““I’m honoured to travel to Ethiopia over the coming days as a GOAL Ambassador and take part in the Great Ethiopian Run. This event is more than just a race, it’s a celebration of resilience, community, and hope. I’m excited to witness firsthand the incredible humanitarian work GOAL is doing across Ethiopia and to meet the people whose lives have been transformed. Running has always been a way for me to connect with others, and this journey is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together.”  

GOAL USA Executive Director Eamon Sharkey added, 

“We’ve gathered a remarkable team this year and we are happy to welcome more team members, said Eamon Sharkey,” Executive Director of GOAL USA. We also welcome support in any amount as this is our largest single annual fundraising campaign. Whether you want to support us or join us, you can do so at goalus.org/greatrun.” 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GOAL USA is an affiliate of GOAL, the international aid organization founded in Ireland in 1977. Since then, GOAL has responded to almost all of the world’s major humanitarian crises, working with vulnerable communities in more than 60 countries. While GOAL continues to be an agile first-responder to humanitarian crises, it is also committed to working with vulnerable communities to help them survive crises and support them on the road to recovery. GOAL’s purpose is to save lives and empower communities to develop resilience and greater control over their lives and livelihoods. GOAL aims to increase the resilience of people and communities, focusing on those who are excluded or marginalized, particularly those who are vulnerable due to socio-economic status, gender or age.  Today, GOAL’s 2,500 staff are working in 13 countries, reaching more than 12 million people last year 

 GOAL has been operational in Ethiopia since the early 1980s. Currently, GOAL is working across 60 districts in 8 regions and two city administrations: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, South Ethiopia, Tigray, Addis Ababa, and Hawassa. In 2023/24, our operations were supported by an annual budget of $30 million, enabling significant investments in the capacity of over 700 Ethiopian staff, with women making up more than 40% of our workforce. 

Our programs address critical sectors, including Nutrition, Health, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Livelihoods and Food Security, Safeguarding, Gender and Social Inclusion, Protection, and Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs). We prioritize the most vulnerable communities, particularly those impacted by drought, conflict, displacement, disease outbreaks, flooding, and earthquakes.