A blue wave of solidarity has been building since 2018 when the first Sanctuary Runners took part in the Cork City Marathon.
That year, 200 runners made history. And now, seven years on, some 1,200 people will take part in the marathon series in Sanctuary Runner blue on June 1st.
It’s a record number of participants in the race for Ireland’s leading solidarity-through-sport organisation founded in Cork by former journalist and broadcaster, Graham Clifford.
“The level of support for the Sanctuary Runners this year has blown us away,” explained Clifford, who last week was awarded the Lord Mayor’s Trophy for his service to the marathon, integration and the community following a public vote.
“What we have really noticed this year is a desire by people in Cork to wear the blue and show their solidarity with people who have moved to Ireland from other countries, celebrating diversity, embracing our multicultural city and sending out a clear message to the world that decency, kindness and welcome flow through these streets,” he added.
Included on the team of 1,200 will be 200 runners from direct provision centres across Cork city and county, as well as others visiting from Dublin, Athlone and Limerick.
There will be 30 Ukrainian participants in Sanctuary Runner blue – as well as some 70 Transition Year students from Coláiste and Phiarsaigh in Glanmire and Midleton CBS.
GLOBAL SOLIDARITY RUN IN JUNE
Sanctuary Runners, now a registered charity, has now welcomed some 35,000 people to events since it first began on Leeside in 2018 and has 42-groups operating across Ireland.
Earlier this month it was named ‘Community Organisation of the Year’ at the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards and recently welcomed President Michael D Higgins as its patron.
It also has a group in Brighton and will launch its new Sanctuary Runners GB organisation in the UK on June 18th.
Additionally, it will hold the annual Global Solidarity Run on October 11th to allow people across the world to demonstrate solidarity with all those who are forcibly displaced or living in extreme poverty. Last year participants in 75-countries took part in the initiative and this year organisers hope to grow that number to over 100 countries. The Global Solidarity Run is supported by Irish Aid, the Ireland Funds and the European Commission.
FORMING BONDS
Former Dublin GAA star Michael Darragh Macauley, now CEO of Sanctuary Runners Ireland, will be in Cork for the Marathon and said the love Cork City has for the Sanctuary Runners is something he’s seeking to replicate across the country.
“I know how strong the link is between Cork City and the Sanctuary Runners and we’re especially grateful for the wonderful support from Cork City Council which, once again, has helped us so much. The movement is so well-known in Cork, it’s part of the fabric of the city and it’s a sign of how open, welcoming and decent the city is. In the years ahead we hope to forge similarly strong relationships with other cities because the bond here is so special, so unbreakable.”
Indeed, Sanctuary Runners will be flying in from the UK to run with the group on the day.
Eamon Hayes, Director of the Cork City Marathon, said the inclusion of the Sanctuary Runners in the event is a major boost for the city.
“This is a marathon for everyone and the Sanctuary Runners bring people together from right across the community – including people seeking international protection and others who have moved here from other countries and other parts of Ireland. It’s a family and we’re so proud, once again, to see such a massive team in blue preparing for race day. “
‘YES TO SOLIDARITY’
Graham Clifford says the importance of such a big team is highly significant.
“There are so many people living in the shadows in Cork and elsewhere. Many who feel afraid, isolated and unaccepted. And there are those who seek to divide, to spread fear and lies about those who have come from other countries.
“On this day we as a city say no to hate and yes to solidarity, yes to friendship and yes to respect. We run and walk through these streets as one and cross that finish line together as brothers and sisters. It will be a powerful day.”
