Valencia Marathon raises 1m euro for flood relief

The money raised has mainly been received in three ways. The first was the contribution from the race organisers themselves, who pledged to donate three euro for every runner who reached the finish line on 1 December, a total of 28,590 finishers. However, SD Correcaminos has made an additional commitment raising this initial figure to 227,000 euro.

In addition to this, the donations made by runners and supporters of the race through the number zero race bib amounted to 205,000 euro via a platform that received individual donations, transfers from other running clubs around the world, and even contributions from tour operators associated with the event.

And the third line is completed with the donation from New Balance. The sports brand associated with the race has been deeply involved following the flooding in the province of Valencia and has committed to donating a total amount exceeding EUR 600,000.

This total figure for the donations raised also includes the 15,062 EUR donated by HOSBEC, on behalf of the hotel sector; the 28,590 EUR (one euro per finisher) donated by race sponsor, Patatas Meléndez; the EUR 4,000 usually given in prizes from the ‘Shops also run’ campaign, which this year was added to the ‘Valencia runs 4 Valencia’ campaign; as well as the EUR 3,000 from the Running Fallero prizes, which the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation decided this year to donate to the six committees of the Junta Central Fallera de Valencia located in the city’s most affected districts.

The focus of the donations is on schools and running clubs as well as on providing money to affected local councils for the reconstruction of their sports facilities. Specifically, an agreement has been signed with the Valencian Community Athletics Federation, through which more than 62,000 euro have been given to the federated athletics clubs in Algemesí, Torrent, Catarroja and L’Om de Picassent. In addition, more than 7,000 euro have been donated to the clubs in Aldaia and Benetússer, both of which have athletics schools.

Similarly, more than 4,800 euro have been given to CEIP Lluís Vives infant and primary school in Massanassa for the purchase of a completely new set of sports equipment as parts of the school collapsed and the pupils have had to be moved to the former teacher training college in Valencia.

Furthermore, an agreement has been signed with Llombai Town Council to repair the changing rooms and the outdoor area around its athletics track for 60,000 euro and another in Requena for 12,000 euro to repair its track as well. Likewise, another significant grant is planned to restore the track in Torrent, with the renovation of the synthetic surface around the entire running track and in the long jump area, as well as the high jump and pole vault mats, amounting to more than 237,000 euro.

New Balance’s total contribution of 560,000 euro will go, through an agreement with the city council, to completely rebuild the synthetic track and the facilities associated with the athletics track in Guadassuar. In addition, the sports brand of the Valencia Marathon has also donated 40,000 euro to the NGO supporting Valencian firefighters, Bombers pel Món.

“The help given to the Valencian athletics family affected by the floods”, said Juan Manuel Botella, general director of the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso Zurich, “shows that this 44th edition of the Marathon was one of the most important we have ever held. Going ahead the Marathon has made it possible to help people. We have to thank Valencia City Council, who saw the importance of holding the race, the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation for their support and example, and all our sponsors for their enormous commitment with the Valencians”.

“Miguel Pellicer and Toni Lastra would be happy to see us lending a hand to Valencian sport through this event which, together with so many other illustrious dreamers from Correcaminos, they first organised in 1981”, concluded Botella.