Young Ambassadors participate in 5K run/walk as the face of Iraq's most vulnerable children

The Iraqi Children Foundation (ICF) will host its 5th Annual "In Their Shoes" 5K run/walk on May 20, 2017 at the US Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia.

The 5K will benefit Iraq's most vulnerable: orphans, street children, and kids displaced by ISIS. ICF is honoured to recognise three Young Ambassadors from Iraq, who will walk in solidarity for the children in their home country. Teeba (15) and Humoody (14) suffered traumatic and life-changing injuries as a result of war. Ala'a (22) was abandoned as a little boy because of his cerebral palsy.

Funding from the 5K will empower ICF to give hope to Iraqi children who are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and recruitment by extremists and human traffickers. It will provide education, legal protection, rescue from the streets, access to food and medical care, psychosocial and financial support, and childhood joys such as toys.

ICF Advisor Barbara Marlowe, said: "As Teeba's American mom, I am proud of her resilience and heart for other kids in Iraq who have suffered like she has. The 5K is a great opportunity for Teeba to lend her voice as a champion for Iraqi kids."

According to UNICEF, "Iraq is now one of the most dangerous places in the world for children." ISIS violence in Iraq has displaced more than 1 million children, compounding the crisis already facing 800,000+ children identified as orphans after the previous decade of war.

Alexandria City Mayor Allison Silberberg will be joined on the Honorary Committee by Ambassador Ali Alhakim – Iraqi Ambassador to the UN; General David Petraeus (US Army, Ret.) and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan; former Iraqi Ambassadors Lukman Faily and Samir Sumaida'ie; former US Ambassadors James Jeffrey, Richard Schmierer, William Taylor and Ron Neumann; Shameem Rassam – AlHurra TV; Janice Chance and Kelly Swanson – Gold Star Mothers; and Dr. Jeremy Kohomban – The Children's Village.

Founded in 2007 by two Americans working in Iraq, ICF brings awareness to the crisis facing Iraq's children. Join us as we run/walk for a day "in the shoes" of some of Iraq's most vulnerable.