Irish Solidarity-Through-Sport Movement aiming to get 1 million people across the world to take part in the October 19th event
Hundreds gather at UNHCR conference to help launch the global run to show solidarity with displaced people across the world
Irish solidarity-through-sport movement Sanctuary Runners today launched an ambitious new project which aims to get 1 million people around the world running, jogging or walking on the same day to show solidarity with people living in forced displacement and extreme poverty .
The Global Solidarity Run will take place on Saturday, October 19th.
The initiative was officially launched during an international conference on displacement hosted by the UNHCR in Geneva and attended by delegates from almost 40 countries, including Ireland.
The Global Solidarity Run is being supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs as part of initiatives to mark the 50th anniversary of the Irish Aid programme. Also supporting the ambitious project is the Ireland Funds and worldwide sporting software platform Strava.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming T.D., said the Global Solidarity Run is an opportunity to mark the great work Irish Aid has done with displaced people and those living in poverty over the last five decades.
Minister Fleming said:
“For 50 years, Irish Aid has been working with partners around the world to create a more equal, peaceful and sustainable world. To mark this anniversary, Irish Aid is supporting the Global Solidarity Run. This initiative will bring people around the world together on October 19th, 2024 to show solidarity with all those who are forcibly displaced and those living in extreme poverty. The Global Solidarity Run is a unique event where people can run, jog or walk any distance as part of one global team. People around the world will come together in an act of solidarity with people living through forced displacement and extreme poverty.”
Graham Clifford, Founder and Head of International Development with Sanctuary Runners, who was in Geneva for the launch this morning, explained how the project will look:
“The Global Solidarity Run will see people around the world all take part in a unique moment to express their support for creating a better world. The support of Strava means people can take part virtually wherever they are but we will have organised runs too – including amongst our network of 40 Sanctuary Runner groups in Ireland. We will start the day’s events on the Pacific islands of French Polynesia and work westwards, through Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and onto the Americas and we will track the day in real-time online sharing images from across the globe. It will be one team running, jogging, walking or rolling together on one day.”
This morning’s launch was attended by the Ambassador of Ireland to the United Nations, Noel White.
To watch a video of the run click here.
To find out more about the Global Solidarity Run visit: www.ireland.ie/globalrun
