RMJM's marathon effort on track to raise $1million for Africa's Maasai

Online, November 18, 2009 (Newswire.com) - RMJM's CEO, Peter Morrison and COO Declan Thomson were part of a 30-strong team (http://www.maasaimarathon.com) drawn from the worlds of business and showbusiness to run the 40th New York marathon on behalf of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust. The team included actor Edward Norton, star of Fight Club and The Incredible Hulk; celebrity illusionist David Blaine; singer Alanis Morrissette; three Maasai Warriors in full traditional dress; and a number of other business professionals.

The unusual alliance was carefully orchestrated with the team collectively bringing fundraising, design and organisational planning skills to support the charity set up by Norton - the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) (http://www.maasaitrust.org). The aim of the effort is to raise $1 million to help conserve the way of life of the semi-nomadic Maasai people and their tribal lands in Kenya, which are threatened by conflicts between people and wildlife, water shortages, sub-division of land and urban migration. To date, the initiative has raised nearly $940,000.

Edinburgh-based RMJM initially met Norton thanks to the firm's links with Harvard University. In 2008, RMJM launched a $2 million programme for Research and Education in Integrated Design Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Specifically, RMJM is designing, planning and funding a state-of-the-art health clinic for members of the Maasai community, who currently have to walk up to 60 miles for medical attention. The health clinic will be designed by a team from RMJM's Global Health and Science Studio (http://www.rmjm.com/about/view-subabout/global/health) in New York and will follow sustainable design principles.

RMJM's CEO, Peter Morrison, who himself ran the marathon, said: "As a global firm, we have a global responsibility to help those who need it most. Quality healthcare is a serious need for the Maasai people as very few clinics exist and, as one of the foremost healthcare design firms in the world, we believe we can make a significant contribution to a healthy and sustainable future for the Maasai. We are thrilled to be working with Edward Norton to put our architects' skills to work for a fantastic cause."

"Having RMJM on board on this initiative is incredibly exciting - like a turbo-booster on our efforts," said Norton. "The capacity and talent they bring in design and architecture are matched only by their enthusiasm to contribute their expertise where it is truly needed most. Conservation, education and healthcare are major priorities for the MWCT. With their help, we're going to make a major new contribution to the quality of life in this area and show that healthcare and conservation are complementary goals."