2,590 people met in Prato della Valle for the second edition of the non-competitive charity race
Padua, September, 19 2021 – In Padua the combination of sport and charity confirms itself as a success.The second edition of SMILE RUN, a non-competitive race held today in Prato della Valle, saw the participation of 2,590 runners who collected and donated an amount of 25,900 euros.
Without any deduction by the organization, all proceeds from the race – a 10 euros’ registration fee per person – were donated to three charity local associations that deal with children. "Running does (some) good" is the slogan of the event. This year, children, adults, families and groups of friends are those who support Team for Children NPO, L'Isola che c'è Associazione Hospice Pediatrico NPO, and ViviAutismo voluntary organization.
Participants of all ages and level of preparation could choose between a 5 or a 10 kilometers running routes, both through the streets of Padua downtown. Moreover, the organization has given to all participants a race pack with many gadgets offered by sponsors and an exclusive technical shirt that was embellished with an original work and donated by the Venetian illustrator Ale Giorgini.
The focus on safety was very high. The organizers have requested to wear the mask until the moment of departure. The distancing has been ensured by the many volunteers engaged in Prato della Valle and along the tracks. Melita Toniolo, the presenter of the event, reminded the rules from the stage. Together with the deejays of Radio Padova, she entertained the participants in a day of sun, movement and solidarity.
The city's institutions were not missing. On the stage of Smile Village, the Mayor of Padua Sergio Giordani, the Councillor for Sport Diego Bonavina and the Regional Councillor Elisa Cavinato thanked all the participants and organizers:
"Sport and charity confirmed themselves as a winning combination for Padua that once again kindly responded. SMILE RUN is an opportunity to restart for all of us and we are happy to see Prato della Valle full of people who have decided to run and help local associations in giving a smile to less fortunate children".
"Once again, people of SMILE RUN have answered the call.We thank all the runners who participated in the event, helping us to give a smile to less fortunate children. After more than a year of stop due to the health emergency, it was not easy to organize an event of this magnitude. We were the first in Padua, and perhaps in Veneto. We did everything to ensure safety, asking for everyone's cooperation to apply protocols -even stricter than those currently in place.” say Giovanni Cecolin and Marco Dalla Dea, owners of YAK Agency, the integrated communication Agency that organizes SMILE RUN.
"SMILE RUN is our way to give something back to the area in which we operate and to support some causes that we have been espousing for years, even for personal reasons." continue Dalla Dea and Cecolin. In its first edition dated 2019, the race donated 16,400 euros to Team for Children and L'isola che c'è. In 2020 the event was postponed due to COVID-19 but the organization still donated over 4,300 euros to the Croce Verde Padova to support its expenses during the first phase of the health emergency.
"Thanks to all participants and organizers who also on this occasion have thought of our association.We will use the funds raised by Smile Run to keep helping children and adolescents undergoing treatment in Pediatric Oncohaematology, and supporting their families." said Chiara Girello Azzena, President of Team for Children NPO, an association that has been collaborating with the doctors and staff of the Pediatric Oncohaematology ward of Padua Hospital for more than 12 years. Working together, they support children and adolescents suffering from cancer and childhood leukemia.
"I am very excited to see Prato della Valle full of Paduans for this extraordinary event that colors the streets of our city with yellow; it fills with joy those like us who are committed every day to help less fortunate children. We will use the collected funds for everything they need” say Stefania Bettin, President of L'Isola che c'è Hospice Pediatrico NPO, an association that has been supporting for 10 years the Regional Center for Palliative Care and Pediatric Pain Therapy, taking care of children with pain and incurable problems.
"Thank you for involving us in this beautiful event and thinking of our association as one of the addressees of your solidarity. The support of SMILE RUN will give continuity to active projects addressed to children and people with autism we take care of every day” says Flavio Baretta, President of ViviAutismo NPO, an association that develops projects dedicated to people with autism. The aim of the initiatives is improving the quality of life and increasing skills and levels of autonomy.
The promoters of the event
SMILE RUN is an event organized by YAK Agency - a communication Agency based in Padua - and Charity Running ASD. Many are the sponsor, including top partners Alifax, Hoffmann Group, Rodigas, NonSoloSport, Centro Medico Vesalio, Banca Patavina and McFit. The run is also sponsored by the Veneto Region, the Province of Padua, the Municipality of Padua, the Padua Chamber of Commerce, Ulss 6 Euganea, the Volunteer Service Centre in Padua, the Padova Green Cross and CONI – Regional Committee Veneto.
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