TORONTO, JAN. 28 – After running 250 marathons in 2010, and recently surpassing his $250,000 fundraising goal, Alberta’s very own “Marathon Man” Martin Parnell will meet two individuals directly impacted by his efforts.

As a part of Right To Play’s first-ever Canadian Awareness Program, Parnell will work hand-in-hand with Irene Kpodo and Asana Ayagiba, Right To Play Coaches from projects in Ghana. The Coaches, along with Parnell and three-time Olympic gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser, will speak at a one-time, free public engagement event Tuesday Feb. 1 in Calgary, to raise awareness about Right To Play and its groundbreaking work using sport and play as tools for development and peace.

“I‘m very excited to meet the Coaches from Ghana,” says Parnell. “I want to know how the Right To Play programs help the children and what the kids think of them.”

It costs approximately $50 to support one child’s participation in weekly Right To Play programming for an entire year. Kpodo and Ayagiba have seen first-hand the impact that these programs have had on children and youth in their communities. They know what a huge difference that contributions like Parnell’s – $280,000 and counting – can make.

Ayagiba, 42, is a mother of two and a teacher in Ghana. She joined Right To Play as a volunteer Coach in 2008, and has been implementing regular weekly sport and play activities in her classroom since.

Right To Play activities have led to increased class attendance and students who are much more attentive in their learning, says Ayagiba.

In a country where only 63 per cent of children enrolled in school finish grade five, the results seen amongst Ghana’s 39,500 children and youth who are engaged in Right To Play activities are promising.

The challenges faced by children in Africa were Parnell’s inspiration for taking on Marathon Quest 250 – a mission to run 250 marathons in 2010 and raise money for Right To Play. A cycling trip from Cairo to Cape Town in 2005 exposed him to the need for sport and play across the continent.

While the speaking engagements in Alberta will be a great chance for Parnell to meet the Coaches and get a first-hand taste of Right To Play’s work, it is his upcoming summer trip to Right To Play projects in Benin that will truly validate his efforts.

Parnell says his trip will be the highlight of 2011.

“Visiting schools where funding raising from Marathon Quest 250 is being used will be amazing,” says Parnell. “I look forward to participating in several Right To Play programs with the kids and to going for a run with them.”

He will also have the chance to turn to an Olympic legend for travel tips. Wickenheiser, who currently plays women’s hockey for the University of Calgary Dinos, experienced Right To Play’s impact herself in 2007 on a trip to Rwanda as an Athlete Ambassador for the organization. Wickenheiser will join Right To Play again this summer at projects in Ghana.

Parnell, Wickenheiser, Ayagiba and Kpodo will be speaking at a free public awareness event Tuesday, Feb. 1, at MacEwan Hall in Calgary.

To register for this free event, visit: www.righttoplay.ca