UAB Solidarity Run returns on 13 December
06/11/2015
Three years on, this new edition of the UAB Solidarity Run-TV3 Marathon comes with a few changes, with the idea of reaching more people. For example whole families can take part in the 6 km run, which is open to children from the age of 8. More demanding runners can take the long course, which has been extended to let them score points. The courses to be used are very similar to previous editions, but with some minor alterations.
Last year's 5 km walk is lengthened to 6 km this year, for instance; The 9 km run is now 10 km; and a new 6 km run has been added, using the same course as the walk. As for the 0.5 km run for persons with reduced mobility, this stays on the programme for this year. It is one of the few runs aimed at those with reduced mobility in Catalonia.
All four categories have their start and finish lines at the Vila Universitària, and start times are spread over the whole morning of Sunday 13 December, the same day as the TV3 Marathon, which this year is raising funds for diabetes and obesity research. Last year TV3 broadcast the start of the run live, as part of its Marathon programme. The square in front of the hotel in the Vila Universitària was the venue for a celebration of sport and solidarity, throughout that Sunday morning.
This year participants can register the kilometres they cover before, during and after the run with the IWOPI solidarity initiative, an aid fundraiser. The UAB has an agreement in place with IWOPI by which, from 18 November onwards, people can begin to "donate" the kilometres covered to the cause. The app for this can be downloaded at http://iwopi.org.
Last year 1,721 persons signed up, and around 100 volunteers were involved in the organisation. The event appealed to both sexes: 51% of the entrants were women and 49% were men. 51% entered the 9 km run., 46% entered the 5 km walk., and 3% entered the run for persons with reduced mobility. Overall, 24% of the entrants were from Barcelona, 18%were from Cerdanyola, 11% from Sabadell, 7% from Bellaterra, and the remainder came from places like Sant Cugat, Badalona, Manresa, Terrassa, Barberà and Montcada, among others.
The total figures for all three previous editions are: around 5,000 people taking part, 250 volunteers, and 25,000 Euros in proceeds, donated to the TV3 Marathon for research into different diseases.
VOLUNTEERS
In last year's event, a hundred volunteers, mainly students and staff, helped out from the early hours of the morning with organisational tasks, coordinated by the Fundació Autònoma Solidaria (FAS). A group of Physiotherapy student volunteers helped runners with recovery exercises when the runs were over.
RUN FOR PERSONS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY
The run for persons with reduced mobility was over a distance of 500 metres, and the participants showed impressive courage and determination. There was a total of 83 participants, a significant figure in view of the fact that these types of events are practically non-existent.
START OF THE RUN BROADCAST BY TV3
Funds raised at this year's event will be donated to the TV3 Marathon, for diabetes and obesity research. Last year, TV3 broadcast the start of the run live, as part of the programme The Marathon, which took up the whole of that Sunday. The sports journalist Pere Escobar was here on campus to commentate on the event. On the start line itself, just moments before the starting pistol went off at 11 o' clock, he interviewed a student runner and a volunteer. Sergi, a PhD student in Veterinary Medicine, and Olga, an admin staff member at the School of Engineering, explained how excited and inspired they felt to play a part in this event and contribute to such a good cause.
This run is organised by the UAB, with the collaboration of Cerdanyola del Vallès Town Council and the Catalan Network of Healthy Universities (Us.cat).
VIDEO ROUNDUP UAB RUN 2014
VIDEO TV3 BROADCAST OF UAB RUN 2014
ENTRIES: www.cursauab.cat
INFORMATION ON THE UAB RUN: http://blogs.uab.cat/lacursadelauab/