• Cork-based solidarity-through-sport organisation leads campaign for new bridge to be named ‘The Sanctuary Bridge’
• A symbol of community integration, the coming together of peoples, the two-way walkway needed for building more cohesive communities
• Sanctuary Runners asking public to submit the name to Cork City Council by Friday afternoon, April 28th
The Sanctuary Runners, founded in Cork City in 2018, is leading a campaign for the new pedestrian bridge across the N40 to be officially named ‘the Sanctuary Bridge’.
The not-for-profit organisation is calling on people, businesses, communities and groups in Cork to support their campaign by submitting an entry for the name to Cork City Council by 4pm on Friday, April 28th.
Winners of numerous national awards, in partnership with Cork City Council, the Sanctuary Runners use running, jogging and walking to bring together all in our community including migrants – and especially asylum seekers and refugees many of whom live near the new pedestrian bridge.
“Many of our members come to run with us on Saturday mornings at the wonderful Tramore Valley Parkrun,” said Sanctuary Runners founder Graham Clifford.
He added: “In many ways the park is their little bit of sanctuary where they can run alongside people from across the community in beautiful surroundings. And more generally Cork City has always prided itself on its ethos of welcome, of safety and of sanctuary. The motto of the city is ‘Statio Bene Fide Carinis’ meaning ‘a safe harbour for all ships’ and we have seen, through our work with Cork City Council, how seriously the approach to welcoming people who have moved to our city from around the world is taken. This bridge could symbolise ad recognise that.”
And Sanctuary Runners believe the bridge could be so much more that a connecting piece of infrastructure.
“We’re already excited about establishing a continuous running route from Kinsale road, over the bridge, into Tramore Valley park and into the city. The bridge will be a living, breathing symbol of community integration and we would love to see other groups use it throughout the year to celebrate our diversity and love of this great city,” said Graham Clifford.
As the deadline for submissions is to close at 4pm on Friday, April 28th Sanctuary Runners is asking people to make their submissions to Cork City Council today.
“The submission takes no more than five minutes. We are asking people to suggest ‘The Sanctuary Bridge’ and tell their friends, family and colleagues to do the same,” said Clifford.
Sanctuary Runners are also asking people to run with them in this years Cork City Marathon on June 4th. People can run the full or half distance or the new 10km distance. No fundraising is required and Sanctuary Runners hope to have at least 500 people running in their tops on race day.
To enter the Cork City Marathon as a Sanctuary Runner go to Corkcitymarathon.ie and if you have any questions please email Cork@Sanctuaryrunners.ie