Singaporean Alicia (San Wai) Ng brings strong linguistic abilities to the Namibia Race when she volunteers at the Namib Race 2024. This is San Wai's third RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts after the Sahara Race 2011 and RacingThePlanet: Sri Lanka 2016. Like many Singaporeans, San Wai speaks a variety of languages, spanning English, Malay, Mandarin and Cantonese, and is a person who loves to volunteer. Beyond her day career as a Human Resources Executive, San Wai has traveled extensively in countries like Nepal and China as a voluntary teacher and has also volunteered for the Channel U - Stars for a Cause projects.
Mabasa MUBATAPASANGO
Network Engineer
Zimbabwe, Resident in Namibia
Mabasa Mubatapasango is an individual who is on a running journey, one that took him from being a serious food lover to becoming a dedicated athlete after having been inspired whilst volunteering at the Sahara Race (Namibia ) 2017. He lives in Namibia where he is a network engineer for a telecoms company, but he is originally from Zimbabwe. His first experience with RacingThePlanet was in 2017 when he joined the camp team and set up the internet connections. He never imagined that he would fall in love with running. He thought it was insane! At that time, he was a self-confessed food lover, weighing in at 110kg. It took witnessing the Namib Race to change his mindset and through his hard work and dedication, has transformed himself in to an athlete. He was a volunteer for the Namib Race in 2018 and 2019 and then took on a challenge to lose weight and do the race himself. He lost 30kg, putting in place a strict training plan, and he fulfilled his dream to participate in the race as a competitor when he completed the Namib Race in 2021 where he finished in 8th place overall! He now has sights set to complete all 4 Deserts Ultras. Most recently Mabasa completed the Atacama Crossing 2022, bringing him closer to his goal and marking his first time travelling outside of Africa. The Namib Race 2024 will be Mabasa's fifth time volunteering and seventh ecperience at a RacingThePlanet / 4 deserts event overall.
Lisa RIGG
Security Consultant
United Kingdom
Lisa Rigg of the United Kingdom has had a very broad education in terms of life experience, travel, working within different cultures and in different professions. Lisa spent several years as a musician/singer/dancer, and then left the stage to become an overland expedition leader, driving trucks across the Middle East and parts of Asia (Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Libya, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Kenya). She also spent time working with other expedition companies, including World Challenge, mentoring children to plan, prepare and deploy on expeditions. Lisa currently works as a security consultant, trainer, and emergency manager, which takes her to fascinating parts of the world. Lisa is highly motivated to maintain a very high level of fitness through running, rowing, swimming, hiking and counterbalances this with yoga. She has a deep connection with the desert having grown up in the Middle East and thrives living and working in remote areas and challenging conditions. Lisa adores travelling and working with people from across the globe. Lisa's husband Keith Goodlad, is also a volunteer at the Namib Race (She says he is even better qualified, though she sets a high bar herself!). They both have an ambition to be participants in one of our races and are delighted and honoured to volunteer to support the Namib Race in 2024 for their first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event.
Tania CHARLES
Insurance
Australia, Resident in New Zealand
Australian Tania Charles currently lives in Auckland, New Zealand where she works in insurance with IAG NZ. Having completed a number of half-marathons and triathlons, including a half-Ironman, Tania has also been part of the support crew for the Speights Coast to Coast. Tania joins the RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts volunteer team for the fourth time having worked in a volunteer team at the Gobi March 2015, Atacama Crossing 2018, RacingThePlanet: New Zealand, was part of the friends and family at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2022 and also a number of triathlons, including the World Championships in Auckland.
Raymond ALDERDICE
Retired
Northern Ireland
Raymond (Ken) Alderdice is a former insurance broker from Ireland. In 1974, at the age of 16, he started working and after 44+ years, he retired in 2018. Ken was looking for adventure during his retirement days and came across the Atacama Crossing (Chile) on TV, and he thought that RacingThePlanet would be a really good place to start. He made his debut as a volunteer at the Gobi March (Mongolia) in 2019 where he was inspired to race himself. He set his sights on RacingThePlanet: Georgia 2020 and lost 10 kg as part of his preparation. After six thwarted attempts due to COVID restrictions and injury, he will at last make it to the start of the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2024 for his first time as a competitor at a RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Race. He has, however, volunteered twice more, at the Namib Race 2021 and the Atacama Crossing 2023. Ken is a keen traveller who loves the outdoors. He has been skiing every year since 1987 and plays golf all year round. You can also spot Ken sailing or doing volunteer work with disabled people. Ken says: "I want to see places that I wouldn't normally travel to and RacingThePlanet allows me to do that!" Through the race, Ken is continuing to raise money and awareness of the Sandwich Tour which helps to feed children in the DRC slums outside Swakopmund in Namibia.
Kosima BüSING
Purchasing Manager
Namibia
Kosima Büsing is an outdoor enthusiast from Windhoek, Namibia. Kosima joins us for her first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event as a volunteer at the Namib Race 2024. She says that out in the middle of nowhere is where she finds her peace and recharges her batteries to face daily grind back in the city. Kosima is a Purchasing Manager at OBECO in Windhoek.
Elke SLINGER
Finance Administrator
Namibia
Elke Singer from Namibia is an avid bubbly road runner and Crossfitter who is known for her sparkly, cheerful and vibrant personality who returns to the Namib Race 2024 for another round of volunteering after volunteering at the 2022 edition. Born and raised in the coastal town Walvis Bay she completed her school year in Swakopmund after which she moved to the capital city, Windhoek where she works as a finance administrator and is a single mum. Playing in the dunes was just a fun thing to do as a child and she loves everything that beautiful Namibia has to offer. She volunteered for a 3 week Missions trip to Thailand in 2016 and 2018 but the Namib Desert and Atlantic ocean will always be dear to her heart. Not just talking the talk, Elke has participated in numerous races, half marathons and trail runs including Two Oceans Half Marathon twice and also competed in the 2019 and 2020 Crossfit Games OPEN. She has assisted with various local running events and was selected as Vice Secretary at the Windhoek City Runners Club. She believes in dedication, commitment, consistency and showing up for herself every day. She loves being active, challenging herself, connecting with people and is always willing to assist and help others in their fitness journey, Her belief is that with hard work you will see results. Let's all follow Elke's moto "Stop making excuses and start making changes. Get into the right mindset to become the best version of yourself"
Jo SCOTT
Artist / Illustrator
United Kingdom
We are excited to welcome Jo Scott back to her fifth RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon. Jo also has lots of experience providing support for runners in other ultramarathons too - usually in colder and wetter conditions in the north of England. Jo is a full-time artist and illustrator who used to work with software providers for the arts and sporting industries, managing customers as diverse as the Tate Galleries and Silverstone Race Circuit. She has herself competed in triathlons and running events, and is a long-distance hiker. Jo designed the special poster given to finishers of the 4 Deserts Grand Slam (Plus).
Lena SASSE
Doctoral Student (Psychology)
Germany
Lena Sasse of Germany is a young doctoral student in psychology from Germany. Lena joins her second RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Ultramarathon after volunteering at the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2023. She loves to travel and see different landscapes and cultures. During her time at university, she met people from all over the world, which was an experience she really enjoyed. She enjoys volunteering at the races to combine her passions of travel and to give something to other people while also growing as a person.
Angela ALCHIN
Social media marketer
Namibia
Namib Race 2024 will be Angela Alchin's second time volunteering for RacingThePlanet's Namib Race. Her first volunteer experience back in 2022 was also her first exposure to stage races. She would like to one day take part in a race, but for now enjoys the volunteer experience, meeting new people, and encouraging every athlete to complete their 250km dream. An avid traveller, Angela has explored much of Asia, and Central America. This Political Risk Analyst turned Social Media Manager is sure to bring a positive energy to the team. Angela currently lives in Walvis Bay, Namibia.
Christopher BREON
Teacher
United States
Chris is a teacher from the United States. He is no stranger to being in austere conditions as he served in the U.S. military and have spent many nights out in the field with minimal creature comforts. He has also worked as a consultant in Vietnam exploring eco tourism possibilities in remote locations. He joins us for the first time as a volunteer for a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon.
Andrea MORGAN
Global Operational Performance Director
United Kingdom
Andrea Morgan from the United Kingdom joins her second RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event at the Namib Race 2024 - having watched her brother, Tony Brammer, race and volunteer at many races. Her job involves a lot of sitting in front of a screen so she tries to use as much of her personal time as possible outside running, hiking, walking, cycling and skiing . She is also a keen traveller and is looking forward to expanding her horizons in Namibia. Having taken part in many races over the past two decades she feels it is now time to pay it forward. She has marshalled the start line of a number of marathons and half marathons and is keen to continue to support others in their goals, just as she was supported. When she's not attempting to recapture past successes, or rediscover her abs, she has been volunteering for the Scout Association (for the past 18 years) in numerous roles including Chairman and Treasurer. She is also a mother of two grown children.
Cheau Yeng DING
HR Generalist
Malaysia, Resident in Singapore
Cheau Yeng Ding joins us for her first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event as a volunteer at the Namib Race 2024. Yeng is from Singapore where she works as HR Generalist for Numerix Singapore Pte Ltd. She says that "Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, listening ears, a kind words, an honest compliment or a smallest act of caring."
Keith GOODLAD
Security and Emergency Response Manager
United Kingdom
Keith Goodlad of the United Kingdom has had an extensively expeditionary background. After a full and distinguished military career, Keith spent 20 years as a remote areas security and emergency advisor and responder, working with local and international geologists and engineers in the deserts of North Africa, Australia and Central Asia. Keith is a qualified off-road driving instructor and mechanic. He has a high level of medical trauma qualification and response experience. Keith continues to travel widely for work and pleasure, and has once before visited Namibia to provide off-road driving training. Keith keeps his levels of fitness high, engaging in significant practical work, single-handedly renovating a farm house in southern Europe, hill walking and running. He has completed several mountain marathons and endurance races. He is self-reliant but a great team player and is delighted to volunteer at his first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event, the Namib Race 2024. Keith's wife Lisa Rigg is also a volunteer at the Namib race, and they both have an ambition to be participants in one of our future races.
Janka DOLEžAL
Life Coach
Germany
Janka Dolezal from Cologne, Germany is a life coach who helps people to heal their childhood trauma and live a prosperous life. The NAmib Race 2024 is her sixth experience at a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon having been on the volunteer team at the Namib Race, RacingThePlanet: Georgia and Atacama Crossing 2022 as well as at the Gobi March (Mongolia) and Atacama Crossing 2023. She has also supported her parnter, Ivan, who raced at the RacingThePlanet races she has been to so far as well as Transgrancanaria, Bluetrail, Vulcano, Ultracostarica and Island ultramarathons. She is full of energy, funny, positive, strong, supportive and not afraid of really hard work.
Sheena BARBER
Accountant
Australia
Sheena Barber joins as a volunteer for her first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event at the Namib Race 2024. She is an accountant from Victoria, Australia. Sheena is a proud parent to two of this year's competitors, Deborah and Garry Walker. Sheena has a keen sense of adventure and enjoys hiking and camping.
David BARBER
Retired Teacher
Australia
David Barber joins as a volunteer for his first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event at the Namib Race 2024. He is currently retired and makes his home in Victoria, Australia. David is a proud parent of Deborah and Garry Walker who will be competing at this year's edition of the Namib Race. He has a keen sense of adventure and enjoys the challenge of stepping out of his comfort zone, both being things he'll likely experience at the Namib Race!
Jacqueline EASTRIDGE
Operations Manager
United States
4 Deserts Club member Jacqueline Eastridge returns to the volunteer team for Namib Race 2024. Jacqueline is not only an impressive careerwoman and a successful endurance athlete but she most recently was Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia followed by a teaching stint at an international school also in Mongolia. In addition to completing the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, Jacqueline has finished RacingThePlanet: Iceland 2013, Primal Quest Race and the Trans Alpine Run as well as high altitude climbs in Switzerland, France and Germany and a 16-mile swim in Tampa Bay, Florida. She was a member of the Team USA Dragonboat Team which competed in the World Championships in Shanghai, China; Berlin, Germany; Sydney, Australia; and Szigid, Hungary. Fluent in English and German and adept at working in international locations and under pressure, Jacqueline will no doubt be a valuable team member this year again assisting with operations at the Namib Race.
Sandy KONDO
Japan
Sandy Kondo from Japan has volunteered sixteen RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts Races - she also raced in RacingThePlanet: Jordan 2012 and Madagascar 2014. Sandy worked for the South African Embassy in Tokyo before retiring in 2023 and has managed the RacingThePlanet office in Japan for more than ten years. Sheis a natural organizer with a flair for multi-tasking.
Kind and generous, Sandy is one of our best known cheer-leaders and has assisted dozens of 4 Deserts and RacingThePlanet competitors in preparing for the races. She also works and volunteers at the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, Tokyo Marathon in Japan and, most importantly, multiple 4 Deserts / RacingThePlanet events.
Dominik NEUBAUER
Cyber Security Expert
Germany
Dominik Neubauer has volunteered in RacingThePlanet's Gobi March and Namib Race before, and is back in the course team at the Namib Race 2024 for the thrid time. Endurance sports have always been a counterbalance to his daytime job, working through Bits and Bytes as a cyber security expert.
Arttie JOSIA
OTB SPORT
Namibia
Arttie Josia joins the Namib Race 2024 as a local volunteer from the capital city of Windhoek, Namibia. Arttie is a professional athlete at OTB Sport and has participated in over 179 marathons. He is passionate about charity and giving back to the community, so he founded the Excavating Poverty Union. The Namib Race 2024 is Arttie's first RacingThePlanet / 4 Deserts event.
Clifton GWAXAB
Namibia
Clifton Gwwaxab is a local from Swakopmund in Namibia. He works in a restaurant but spends all his spare time helping to feed the children in the poorer areas of Swakopmund through the Sandwich Tour. He was a volunteer at the Namib Race 2022 and we look forward to seeing back for his second RacingThePlanet Ultramrathon at the Namib Race 2024.
A. Michael FLAHERTY
Commodity Hedge Fund Manager
United States
Michael Flaherty is connected to RacingThePlanet through his fiancé, Elizabeth Brown, and sister, Heather Flaherty, who are both race competitors. Born and raised in Boston, Michael now lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he co-owns and operates a commodity trading hedge fund. When he is not working, Michael enjoys spending time with his fiancé and two grown children (Katherine and Macdara) scuba diving, fly fishing, hunting and horseback riding. His other interests include music and travel. In his younger days, Michael worked as a cowboy on ranches in Calgary, Alberta Canada and Idaho where he rode as a saddle bronc rider in a professional rodeo. He studied classical piano at the Boston Conservatory of Music and played college ice hockey at his alma mater, Amherst College, before earning his MBA from Harvard Business School. Michael sits on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations in Puerto Rico and Boston. The Namib Race 2024 is Michael's first time joining a RacingThePlanet Ultramarathon.
Sem SHAANIKA
Soldier
Namibia
Sem Shaanika from Namibia is a soldier with the Ministery of Defence based in Windhoek. He is a runner himself and wants to join the volunteer team to gain experience about the race with the plan to race in the fututre.
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