Challenge. Distance. Discovery

Winner of some of the world’s most difficult and challenging ultra-distance foot races, Ray Zahab is motivated by challenge, distance and discovery. Late in 1998 Ray made a life changing decision to leave a pack a day smoking habit and very unhealthy life choices behind him. New Years day 2000 he went hiking with his brother John and never looked back.

New to the sport of running in 2004, ultra-marathoning took Ray from the cold north of Canada to the Amazon jungle. But it was the Sahara desert that ultimately captured Ray’s heart. After racing across Niger, Egypt and Libya the idea was born to cross the entire Sahara out of a love for the terrain and it’s people. In 2007, Ray Zahab and two others made history by running 4300 miles across the entire Sahara Desert , raising awareness for clean-water initiatives in Africa. This feat consisted of 111 consecutive 40 - 50 mile days of running in extreme desert conditions through six countries. Ray dreamed of this adventure after a 200 mile foot race in Niger, during which he became very attached to the Sahara and its people, the Tuareg. During this run, Ray met a young Tuareg girl who asked him for his water bottle so that she could drink the remaining drops. Ray later came to understand this interaction as symbolic of the profound clean-water crisis devastating the region. After witnessing and experiencing the water crisis and malaria epidemic in Africa, Ray decided to dedicate his future adventures to raising awareness and funding for causes that he supports and believes in. Ray is a member of the board of Directors of the Ryan’s Well Foundation, is the official Athletic Ambassador to the ONExONE organization, and is a representative of SpreadTheNet and the founder of Impossible2Possible. Ray was the recipient of the ONExONE Difference Award in 2007- honorees included Sarah Ferguson, Chief Phil Fontaine, Richard Gere and Wycleff Jean.

Most recently, Ray has been inspired to include the connection between climate change and it’s negative social impact. From desertification and the expanding malaria belt- to the loss of Inuit hunting grounds in Canada’s north, the impact of the changing climate is felt around the world. Rays next adventure, The Polar Run Expeditions in 2008 and 2010 will highlight these issues for younger people through the creation of a unique and wide reaching online educational resource.

Ray has an exploding speaking career- speaking in front of audiences worldwide including PowerWithin, Johnson and Johnson, Pepsi, Sunlife Financial, Outdoor Retailers (Utah), and so many more.

Ray also splits his time speaking to schools, fundraisers and special events such as AL Gore’s Climate Project, Special Olympics, Canadian Olympic Association, Icebergs to Sand Dunes...Our Changing Planet, Riverside Resolve Center, Guts and Glory, Youth Business Network End Child Poverty, plus many more.

“Ray Zahab is one of those rare people who can translate his truly awesome accomplishments into an enthusiastic, riveting and inspirational message. Listening to Ray speak about what he does and how he does it is like taking a happy pill, jolting you into action, and making you believe you can do anything. He is one of those undiscovered Canadian treasures whose message about going beyond your limits gets more relevant every day...this man does not just walk the walk, he runs the run.” Evan Solomon – CBC Sunday