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17 years ago, no one would have thought that Charlie Engle could be a world-class ultramarathoner. At that time, Engle was a drug addict, living in a cheap hotel, with only a single goal: getting high. Amazingly, he was also running in between binges. When he finally hit bottom and started getting help, he dedicated himself to running. Years later, in 2007, he led a three-man team that would be the first to run across the Sahara desert. When the completed the expedition, Engle was only getting started.
The run itself was an attempt to raise awareness about the lack of clean drinking water in Africa. An estimated 20 percent of the world lives without access to clean water. The problem is thought to be the cause of 4,500 child deaths daily. The situation, it seems, is only getting worse. A recent report from the United Nations estimated that by 2030, half of the world's population will be living in an area suffering from a water shortage.
Working with H20 Africa, the run raised money to launch education and infrastructure projects across the continent. Now, Engle works with organizations such as WaterPartners to help.
Charlie Engle's transformation, from drug addict to ultramarathoner, drop out to aid worker, shows that, with enough effort, anything is possible.
Find out more about the latest environmental news on Focus Earth: March 14, 2009: Oil on the Fall and Running the Sahara.
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