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Somali aid fills Farah with pride

Farah became Great Britain's first male long-distance world champion in Daegu last summer © PA Photos

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• Profile: Mo Farah

Mo Farah could not be more proud to run for Great Britain at the London 2012 Games, despite a tough start to life as a Somali refugee in the UK.

The 5000m world champion, who arrived in London aged eight as his family fled civil war, has been moved by the response of the British public to the famine in Somalia last summer, which was officially declared over by the United Nations earlier this month.

Farah, who remembers little of his childhood in Africa, took his wife Tanya and six-year-old daughter Rhianna to visit his home country at the height of the disaster last September, just weeks after becoming the first British man to win a long-distance world title. He was shocked by the realities of life for many people in his home land, where access to clean water, food and clothing is scarce.

The 28-year-old established the Mo Farah Foundation on his return to aid the ongoing relief effort in Somalia and to provide support for long-term solutions in some of the country's worst-affected areas.

And the ongoing response of the British people to the crisis has been a particular source of pride for the man running under the flag of his adopted country.

"Speaking to family and friends in Somalia, I know that our efforts have helped," said Farah. "Thousands of lives have been saved. The British public can be really proud of the difference they have made and I am proud of what we did.

"Today, David Cameron is hosting an international summit in London to discuss Somalia. The UK Government sent life-saving aid to help over three million, and people all over Britain donated to the emergency famine appeal.

"It is always a privilege for me to wear my British tracksuit but, after the past year, it means even more. I am proud to represent a country that does not look the other way when millions are suffering."

The Farah family settled in west London and Mo started school life knowing just three English phrases - one of which led to a tough introduction to the playground.

"I didn't speak the language and I wanted to fit in. I was playing football and this kid kicked the ball away, so I said 'C'mon then!' He battered me and I ended up going home with a black eye."

Two decades on, Farah is set to be one of the faces of the Olympic Games. While all eyes will be on him as 5000m world champion and 10,000m silver-medallist, he knows the size of the task ahead - and has athletics to thank for helping him settle into life in the UK.

"Getting involved in sport helped me. After a while I picked up more English but for a bit I did struggle. Now I'm world champion I can help off the track. But I don't think I can take my foot off the gas. I have to keep working hard, stay focused, stay disciplined. I can't take anything for granted."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.