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“This is an opportunity for girls and women to do something that they have never done before. The idea arose in November 2016 when I went to run a marathon there and saw what these women are trying to do to change things, especially through sports,” he said.

If the fundraiser reaches its goal, the plan is not only to once again build and flood the rink for the winter months but also to allow 10 girls from across Afghanistan to travel to Bamyan and take part in a winter sports week being planned in that mountain town.

“Many of them will have never have left their own provinces before and they definitely will never have skated,” added Parnell.

All money raised at the New Year’s Eve event, which involves races over a multitude of distances ranging from a fun run/walk to a full marathon, will go to Free To Run. The worldwide charity’s mission is to use outdoor sport and adventure to empower those girls and women who have been deeply affected by war and conflict.

“We are stepping in to ensure the girls who started skating last year can continue to do just that, and also to introduce it to other girls for the first time,” said Parnell.

Though many thousands of miles separate Cochrane and Bamyan, he believes there are similarities that may help people taking part in the New Year’s Eve runs feel a certain kinship.

“The town of Bamyan is at 9,000 feet in the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains. In some ways, it is similar to Cochrane in the foothills of our Rockies. Because of that geography, their winters are very similar to ours.”