The UAB Solidarity Race in support of La Marató de TV3 brings together 1,400 participants

The UAB and the Cerdanyola del Vallès City Council, in collaboration with Applus+ Laboratories, have once again organised the 2021 solidarity race and walk in support of La Marató de TV3, this year dedicated to mental health. The race was held on Sunday, 19 December, and included 1,361 participants (708 women and 653 men). A total of 26.3% were inhabitants of Cerdanyola del Vallès, 19.7% came rom Barcelona, 11.6% from Sabadell, 10.6% from Sant Cugat and 6.47% from Terrassa.

The winners of the 11.6 km race were Carles Pérez Guallar, in the men’s category, and Marta Sabaté Tormos, in the women’s category. With regard to the 6 km walk, the winners were Alex Nuñez Leal and Núria Selva Torras.

Apart from these participants, there were also 80 people signed up to do the virtual race, which will continue to accept participants until the month of March. Also helping to make the race possible were 120 volunteers, coordinated by the Fundació Autònoma Solidària (FAS).

In total there were over 1,400 people participating in the UAB Solidarity Race to help raise money for research for the 2021 edition of La Marató de TV3.

When considering UAB figures, the faculties with the most participants were first the Faculty of Science, followed by the Faculty of Medicine and tied in third the Faculty of Bioscience and the School of Engineering.

Three different modalities were offered: a 500 metre race for those with reduced mobility, an 11.6 km race and a 6 km walk.

The race took place under strict health safety measures, as all other races being held during these days. The start and finish line, as every year, was located at the Vila Universitària, on the UAB campus. The itinerary took participants past the ALBA Synchrotron Light facility, located very near the campus, and then back through the Central Axis and the SIS area, to then return to the Vila Universitària. The long race, measuring 11.6 km, also included parts of Cerdanyola del Vallès, reaching the city hall, as it did in 2019, before the pandemic.

People from all walks of life participated, federated runners, amateur athletes, families, UAB workers, lecturers and students. Even UAB Rector Javier Lafuente, UB Rector Joan Guàrdia and the mayor of Cerdanyola, Carlos Cordón, participated in this year’s race.

Last in-person race, in 2019, included over 2000 participants

The latest edition of the solidarity race held under normal circumstances, in 2019, and therefore before the pandemic, was one of the years with the most number of participants, a total of 2,280 persons.

In all 10 editions of the UAB Solidarity Race, 13,500 people have participated, and with their sportive and solidary spirit, they have all contributed to research in the different areas proposed each year by La Marató de TV3. In these 10 editions of the race, the UAB has raised a total of 150,000 euros, which has been donated each year to La Marató de TV3.

Participating in virtual mode

With regard to the virtual mode of the UAB race, this year participants can sign up on any day from 1 December to 10 March 2022 for the 11.6 km race, the 6 km walk or race, and the 500m reduced mobility race, and in any other modality and race length proposed, both individually and in group. Registrations can be done through the AmicsUAB app (downloadable for Android and iOS), where they can also record the number of solidarity kilometres accomplished, the challenges each person aimed to overcome, and any photos they want to share. These photos will serve as a mosaic of all participants that will be shared on both platforms. The app was made available on 1 December.

Presentation of the race in an event held on 17 December

On Friday 17 December, the Solidarity Race was presented in an event held at the Central Library of Cerdanyola del Vallès. The event consisted in a round table focusing on mental health, with the attendance of different entities from the town of Cerdanyola, as well as the UAB Core in Mental Health, given that the theme of this year’s fundraiser “La Marató de TV3” is dedicated to mental health and all money raised in the UAB’s solidarity race will be donated to this cause. 

 

More information:  Facebook photo album