· 200 secondary school students from across Cork will run with the Sanctuary Runners and be ‘Flagbearers for Solidarity’. · The not-for-profit organisation founded in Cork in 2018 will have a team of 600 people taking part on Sunday, May 31st · There will be 40 nationalities represented across the team in blue With just over a week
· 200 secondary school students from across Cork will run with the Sanctuary Runners and be ‘Flagbearers for Solidarity’.
· The not-for-profit organisation founded in Cork in 2018 will have a team of 600 people taking part on Sunday, May 31st
· There will be 40 nationalities represented across the team in blue
With just over a week to go to this year’s Cork City Marathon hundreds of secondary school students from across Cork City and County are preparing take part in a new event celebrating diversity, integration and solidarity on May 31st.
The ‘NextGen Solidarity 10k’ replaces the former Youth Challenge – a 10-kilometre run for students within the Cork City Marathon.
Sanctuary Runners, Ireland’s leading solidarity-through-sport initiative and charity, has partnered with Cork City Council, and the marathon sponsors Analog Devices, to develop a race which specifically champions solidarity with ALL in the community – including those who have moved to the rebel county from other countries – be that to work, study or find safety and sanctuary.
Around 200 transition year students from eight secondary schools across Cork will participate and as part of their preparations they are in training with Sanctuary Runners to get a better understanding of the challenges facing many in our communities when it comes to developing a sense of belonging.
Sanctuary Runners founder Graham Clifford said this new initiative is a hugely exciting development in Cork.
“When we go into classrooms we see young people from a wide diversity of backgrounds – all getting along and showing respect to each other. Often that wonderful dynamic can be thriving in a school setting but sadly lacking outside the school gates. So, we want to bring that soundness, that hope, that decency to the streets of Cork on May 31st and show that the younger generation can be leaders in building communities where there is no place for othering, racism or bigotry, they can be our flagbearers of solidarity. After all Cork is the ‘City of Welcomes’ so let’s see that in action.”
All students taking part in the NextGen Solidarity 10k will wear the iconic blue Sanctuary Runner t-shirts which carry the words solidarity, friendship and respect on them. They have been attending training sessions in Cork City and Fermoy in recent weeks to prepare for the big day.
Students from schools including Coláiste Éamann Rís and Coláiste Chríost Rí in Turners Cross, Midleton CBS, Loreto School in Fermoy, Cork Educate Together on Wellington Road and Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire will take part in the Solidarity 10k.
In addition to the students taking part the Sanctuary Runners will bring approximately 600 participants taking part in the day’s races – including many living in direct provision.
An eclectic running team will feature runners and walkers from 40 countries including people originally from Palestine, Syria, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, China, Australia, the USA, Brazil, Ukraine, Spain and Denmark.
Eamon Hayes, Director of the Cork City Marathon said: “We’ve been delighted to work with the Sanctuary Runners since 2018 and we feel the values they champion should form the foundation for our marathon. That’s why we developed the NextGen Solidarity 10km – to celebrate diversity, inclusion and belonging in our great city. Runners set the pace, they lead the way with passion and positive energy, our students will be doing that and we’re so proud to support their efforts on May 31st.”
Sanctuary Runners has five groups across Cork which meet weekly to run, jog or walk together to build community integration – in Cork City, Mallow, Fermoy, Cobh and Youghal with a new group being established in the coming weeks in Clonakilty. To get in touch just drop an email to info@sanctuaryrunner.ie
Graham Clifford explains: “You’d don’t need to be a runner to be a part of the Sanctuary Runners family – indeed about half of our participants across Ireland are walkers. Once you bring a smile and an open mind everyone is welcome. As we always say: ‘Just be sound.‘”
