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Vegan athlete Rich Roll says hosting the recent premiere of Running For Good was an ‘honor and a pleasure’.
The film follows vegan runner Fiona Oakes – a veteran of more than 50 marathons – in her attempt not only to set a new global record in endurance racing, but to compete in the ‘toughest footrace on earth’ the Marathon Des Sables, 250km race through the Sahara Desert.
Roll described the film as ‘a portrait of the great and under-appreciated athlete/activist Fiona Oakes‘.
Fiona Oakes
Oakes was featured in PBN’s Top 100 Most Influential Vegans – and with her list of accomplishments, it’s easy to see why.
According to Great Vegan Athletes: “Fiona works as a retained firefighter, a job which means she is often on call and needs to be ready to react quickly.
“She also works long hours on a sanctuary she runs almost singlehandedly, on which she cares for 400 animals including horses, pigs, sheep and dogs.
“She also fundraises for the sanctuary, for which the food bill is over £5000 per month, and for other animal issues. Typical working days start before dawn and end around 8pm on her sanctuary in Essex, UK.”
Klaus Mitchell interviews Keegan Kuhn.Subscribe to PBN’s YouTube Channel here
‘Humbling and surreal’
Speaking about the premiere, Oakes told Plant Based News: “Seeing the film on the big screen was very humbling and quite surreal. I was so honored to be asked to do this film by Keegan, someone I have such great respect for. His remarkable filmmaking skills having had such a great impact in bringing the horrors, and consequences, of animal agriculture to the mainstream, general public.
“When Rich Roll was invited to narrate it I was quite overwhelmed. I never actually think, or see, what I have achieved as worthy of attention so to be the focus of so much is quite difficult to take on board. It was a privilege to be amongst such an amazing and like-minded audience who were all so positive and receptive towards what I am trying to achieve. Using my running as activism for the positive and proactive promotion of all I believe whilst the animals at the Sanctuary always remain the centre of my world and my focus, inspiration and motivation to go on and achieve more.
“I think Keegan has done an amazing job and have no words which can fully articulate my gratitude to all those involved in making this happen. All I can say is thank-you to all involved and for those kind enough to watch and support the film and take on board the message I am trying to convey through my words and actions.”
Running for Good
The movie was directed by Keegan Kuhn – best known for his work Co-directing Cowspiracy and What the Health. Speaking to Plant Based News Founder Klaus Mitchell, Kuhn said: “Oakes has run pretty much every extreme race in the world, and she does that to promote veganism and to show you that a vegan diet doesn’t hold you back from doing anything.”
Speaking about the film, which he described as ‘a really exciting, beautifully shot sports documentary’, he said: “It’s a departure from Cowspiracy and What the Health…it’s a single story…and really an emotional and inspiring documentary.
“I think a lot of people who are athletically-minded, who think they have to eat animal products to continue with their sports, will be inspired to realize you can do anything on a plant-based diet – and it might even benefit your athleticism.”
Plant Based Newsupdated this story on 03/09/18 to add a comment from Fiona Oakes.
