It was a run like no other as thousands of people in 75 countries across the world took part in Saturday’s Global Solidarity Run.
A run to enable people to show solidarity with those who are forcibly displaced and those living in extreme poverty, the Sanctuary Runners’ initiative began on the island of Malaita in the Solomon Islands.
Some 15,116 kilometres away in Limerick, Ireland, at the Global Solidarity Run Mission Control, Bettie Perry and her family were guests of honour at the weekend’s launch event on O’Connell street.
Now living in Tipperary Bettie helped recruit family and friends back in the Solomon Islands to take part in the run and explained to the crowds gathered in Limerick why it was so important.
“We are so delighted that the run started in my small country which is so often forgotten. Because of climate change and rising sea levels people are forced to move for safety and so many leave the islands. We are proud to have this opportunity to show solidarity with others across the world who are forced to leave their homes through no fault of their own,” she said.
Also at that event in Limerick was Sarah Hunt, Head of Policy with Irish Aid. The Global Solidarity Run was supported by Irish Aid as this year marks 50-years since it was established.
With the Solomon Islands being eleven-hours ahead of Ireland the first images and video clips of the islanders, all dressed in blue, getting ready to run on the beach reached Limerick late on Friday evening – already Saturday morning in the South Pacific.
A start line made of shells and stones had been assembled on the sand.
Morris Bateni, with his booming voice, announced that the Global Solidarity Run was about to begin and with that a group of bare-footed giggling locals took off down the beach smiling and laughing as they went.
They would be the first to run in the Global Solidarity Run – honorary Sanctuary Runners on the day.
On the eve of the run President Michael D Higgins sent a special letter to the Global Solidarity Run organisers.
In it he wrote: “Whether you are running, jogging or walking today, the solidarity which you have and continue to show not just to each other, but to all those forcibly displaced or living in extreme poverty across our shared planet is an example of the solidarity which is needed at all levels (for) a world based on humanitarian values – of a new connection between economy, social justice and ecology – which we all wish to see.”
Run organisers back in Limerick operated shifts to make sure no new incoming material was missed as pictures and videos started flooding in. But really no one could sleep!
From Parramatta Park in Sydney, from Wellington in New Zealand, from Bangkok Thailand where a week earlier the Ambassador of Ireland there Pat Bourne had sent out a wonderful video inviting others to ‘wear the blue jersey’ and join.
By the time a large group of Sanctuary Runners had assembled on O’Connell Street in Limerick to run at 9.30am so many countries across the world had already completed their runs – many in warmer climates rising extra early to get their contribution recorded.
Villagers in Punjab in Pakistan, runners in Tokyo, New Dehli and Kuala Lumpur and even people taking on a jungle run in Vietnam. In Sejong, South Korea a Zimbabwean lady called Lindsay encouraged her entire running club to take part during a marathon.
All running, jogging and walking in solidarity with people for whom safety and sanctuary are all they seek.
A video from Pretoria, South Africa showed embassy staff, both Irish and local, sprinting up a hill together as one. In Lusaka, Zambia mothers pushed babies in prams as they jogged. The smiles flowed in Freetown, Sierra Leone and in Nigeria the Abuja running club joined embassy staff and looked the part in the blue.
Our dear friend Miriam Donohue helped us to get people running and walking in Kampala, Uganda including those working with Hospice Africa Uganda and its 89-year-old founder Dr Anne Merriman who said: “I am delighted to take part in this event to show solidarity with all of those in our world who do not have a home.”
Meanwhile well over 150-people gathered in Dakar, Senegal to take part in the run with the embassy of Ireland and partners pulling out all the stops. They gathered at the steps of the African Renaissance Monument.
Across Europe people rose to the challenge with embassy staff running through Berlin to reach the Brandenburg gates. In Riga and Vilnius large groups came together inspired by the embassies of Ireland in each capital while the mother of a Polish lady living in Fermoy, Cork donned her blue and went for her morning walk with others on her mind.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, people wore familiar colours to seek and show solidarity.
People ran through the streets of Rome, Brussels, Paris, Helsinki and Amsterdam. Even the Vatican’s athletics club joined forces with the Mission of Ireland there to do their bit to champion solidarity with those who are displaced in our world.
On the South coast of England the always smiling Brighton Sanctuary Runners gathered to add their steps and energy and in London a super effort from the staff of the London Marathon Events company brought so many together as they showed solidarity with everyone in their community – including those who had come from other countries. In Devon our dear friend Ardharanand Finn ran with fresh memories of running with Sanctuary Runners on his epic run around Ireland.
With the sun now reached its zenith over the neighbouring islands dozens of runners and walkers, young and old, gathered at the newly opened Dublin Port Greenway with Sanctuary Runners’ CEO Michael Darragh McCauley welcoming everyone and setting them on their way.
All across Ireland Sanctuary Runner groups showed up in big numbers to make their contribution to the Global Solidarity Run. From Letterkenny to Poolbeg, Fermoy to Galway City and Laois to Bray and on to Belfast. There were cakes specially made, signs, flags, songs – even the founder of Sanctuary Runners was spotted dancing having lost out on a bet!
And before we crossed the Atlantic – one beautiful, magical quiet moment as four coastal rowers at the Kinghorn coastal rowers club in Fife, Scotland made their stunning contribution to the Global Solidarity effort. They roared ‘ONE ROW, ONE DAY, ONE WORLD, ONE TEAM OF EQUALS’ and away they moved through the waters.
Back in Limerick the team were working hard to keep up with the influx of pictures and videos. As soon as one gasp fell silent another could be heard as displays of decency, solidarity and soundness landed into the inbox or popped up on social media.
Afternoon made way for evening but our run continued at pace.
In Brasilia, Buenos Aires and Bogota embassy of Ireland staff joined others to make their mark and soon we had reached North America – shout out to Rebecca in Mexico who ran and even made her own sign – sound!
From Boston to New York, Washington DC to Austin, Texas and out to Los Angeles, Missions of Ireland and local groups laced up their running shoes and put one foot in front of the other for solidarity. And, as seen on our Strava club, so many in other parts of the U.S. contributed in their own way.
And not to be outdone the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa, Canada led by their new Ambassador John Concannon hit the streets as one – a mini blue wave of solidarity, friendship and respect.
Darkness fell in Munster. A global run was about to come to an end on ‘the sacred island’.
Raiatea is the second largest island in French Polynesia, after Tahiti. It has a population of just 12,545.
And it was here that Sandra Colomes, donned her blue top, fixed her hat, draped her bag over her shoulder and took to the road to walk. The final participant of this year’s Global Solidarity Run. The mother of a wonderful young woman Herehau Blaise who while studying in Ireland had run with the Sanctuary Runners.
The circumference of the globe is 40,075km. The distance between the Solomon Islands and French Polynesia is 5,503km meaning our run covered an incredible 34,572 kilometres. One Run, One Day, One World. One Team of Equals. (+One exhausted, but thoroughly satisfied, organising duo of Graham and Helen!)
Sanctuary Runners would sincerely like to thank our supporters on this project – Irish Aid and the Ireland Funds. To Strava for your guidance but most especially to all those who took part in our run across the world. You let your feet do the talking. Thank you sincerely.