Free to Run and UTMB Cares Join Forces to Grow Inclusion in Trail Running
Free to Run is proud to receive support from UTMB Cares to further our mission of advancing gender equity globally through running. Through this collaboration, young women from conflict-affected regions, where women’s rights are most challenged, will have the opportunity to take part in some of the world’s most renowned trail running events - the UTMB World Series races. This collaboration will not only help diversify the sport but at the same time will help amplify visibility of the power of running for girls and young women in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
This project is supported by UTMB Cares, UTMB Group’s endowment fund to unite trail-running communities and create positive change by supporting local social and environmental causes where UTMB World Series events take place. Built on the spirit of the trail running community, UTMB Cares focuses on three areas: environment, territory, and people. Through the “people” pillar, it works to make trail running more inclusive and accessible.
By supporting Free to Run, UTMB Cares is extending this work to reach women from conflict-affected regions, providing them with the opportunity to train and take part in trail events.
The project supports two groups of runners. The first includes young women in Iraq who are part of Free to Run’s core program. The second includes Afghan women who previously took part in Free to Run’s programs and are now living as refugees around the world. Both groups will receive training and logistical support to take part in UTMB World Series events beginning in 2025.
THE FIRST RACE: ATEFA AT ULTRA-TRAIL WHISTLER BY UTMB
On 28 September 2025, Atefa Rahimi became the first runner to take part in this project, completing the 25 km race at Ultra-Trail Whistler by UTMB in Canada.
Atefa was born in Afghanistan, and now lives in Ontario, Canada. She is a psychology student and the eldest of eight children. She joined Free to Run in 2018 and began running seriously the following year.
After the Taliban returned in 2021, Atefa’s safety as both an athlete and a singer was threatened, and her family fled Afghanistan. In Canada, she continues to study, work, and train while supporting her siblings.
Atefa at the start line of Ultra-Trail Whistler by UTMB
Atefa after the race
“Running became my way to push back. UTMB World Series races represent that truth in motion. My goal is to keep representing Afghan women on global stages and to live a life that shows where we come from does not decide where we can go. Running marathons on the road has always felt like a test of speed and endurance, but trail racing, especially Ultra-Trail Whistler by UTMB, felt completely different. It’s about strength, patience, and connecting with nature.”
Free to Run plans to bring the first group of Iraqi runners to the 20km race at Mallorca by UTMB in November, pending visa approvals.
At the same time, a group of Afghan alumni now based in Europe and North America will take part in UTMB World Series events closer to home. These runners are already experienced athletes who see trail running as a way to rebuild their sense of belonging and connection. The partnership aims to create a clear pathway for them to one day participate in the OCC at UTMB Mont-Blanc, in the Mont-Blanc valleys.
“At UTMB Group, we believe running is more than a sport. It can be a way to connect, and sometimes, to resist. Through our support to Free to Run, we are proud to open the trails to women who have faced barriers that most of us cannot imagine. Together, we can help create opportunities for those who have not always had the freedom to run — and show what our sport and our community stand for.”
Together, both Free to Run and UTMB aim to make trail running more inclusive and accessible, giving more women the opportunity to move freely and take their place in the sport.
Free to Run participants training in Iraq. Photo by Erin Trieb.
“For many of the young women we work with, running started as an act of courage. This partnership with UTMB Group shows these runners that the global trail community is ready to stand beside them. That sense of solidarity is powerful.”
Be sure to follow Free to Run on social media for updates on our team at these races!