Keep calm and Run For IT! We did it again!

Chilly Sunday morning caught the organising team in the act. Tables, benches, tents and donation boxes lined the site, where within minutes the slightly sleepy but enthusiastic chatter of volunteers could be heard. The square in front of the beach slowly began to fill with life as the 240 runners arrived on site. In addition to them, plenty of other ambassadors from other locations were running or cycling at the same time. Some 491 people chose to run in other locations, 460 of them within the country, while 31 ambassadors completed the distance in other countries.

Of course, donors have not been idle either, a total of RON692,961 was raised from 8,837 offerings. The 44 organizations set a target of RON376,300, which was well exceeded, with nearly RON700,000 raised by the ambassadors. The next step will be the signing and exchanging contracts.

But who are they, the runners and cyclists? They are ordinary enthusiastic young people, adults and children, who on the 9th of October, wearing blue T-shirts, rode their laps in the city park or at some other places. The oldest was almost 69, while the youngest was 2.5 years old. This proofs again that you can never start too early, but also it’s never too late. In total, 145 youngster followed in the grown-ups’ footsteps (or rather set an example for them), while among the adults, 436 women and 295 men fought with the miles. In addition, a total of 202 people got a set of cycling shoes, while 529 people chose running shoes.

The program is implemented within the framework of the Civil Triangle for Community Philanthropy. This project is implemented by the Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation in partnership with The House Association from Miercurea Ciuc and the Atelier Association from Gheorgheni with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021.

As a main sponsor this year, Kaufland Romania helped the 731 ambassadors to run and cycle on Sunday with a nice start package.

Several businesses and public institutions contributed to the success of this project with various grants: Color Metal, Odorheiu Secuiesc County Municipality, Magdolna Impex, Benati, Maxoll, Ensana, Greenstick Europe, Diemer, Communitas, Romanian-American Foundation, Policlinica de marketing, Mini-Transylvania Park, Legendarium, KOZ., Zete Karting, Haáz Rezső Museum, Eva Young Face Permanent Skin Care Centre, Green Hat Kayak, Kettlebel Gym, Rooster Grill Food, Extreme Paintball Odorhei, AWG Game Centre, Septimia, GastroBun, Hargita Outdoor, Spion Café, Kotyogó, Manó Ice Cream, Varga Mézes, VR Fun, Árnika, Odorheiu Secuiesc City Library, Geocaching.

Many thanks to the cooperating partners for all of this: the Scout Association, the Experience Association Zetelaka and the Dobes Youth Boxing Association.

Finally, let’s guess what would have happened if all the miles covered on Sunday morning had been done by one single person. Where would he be now? Here’s a hint: if all 7271 Km had been covered by one person, he or she would have run from Odorhei all the way down to Malaga (Spain) and then back again to Odorhei.

Fortunately, that was not the case. All those miles were shared by 731 wonderful people, who experienced the power of community, the loud shouts of enthusiastic encouragement, the uplifting effect of the background music and the helpfulness of volunteers.

This project is implemented by the Odorheiu Secuiesc Community Foundation in partnership with The House Association from Miercurea Ciuc and the Atelier Association from Gheorgheni with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Romania, programme funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The aim of the project in four priority areas is: organisational development, launching of a crowdfunding platform, organisation of fundraising sport events in the three regions, training organised for NGOs in the three regions on alternative fundraising. The total value of the project is EUR 107,135, of which the total amount of funding is EUR 99,935 and the amount of own contribution is EUR 7,200.