Updated: Charity Run At Budapest Airport Attracts Over 1000 Participants

  • 4 Oct 2024 11:07 AM
Updated: Charity Run At Budapest Airport Attracts Over 1000 Participants
Runway Run, the charity run of Budapest Airport operated by VINCI Airports, took place on Saturday, 31 August with over 1000 runners competing this year. In line with traditions, the twelfth edition of the sporting event was again held for charity; Budapest Airport donated the entire amount raised from the entry fees to SUHANJ! Foundation and the Ments Életet Non-profit Foundation, which support sporting opportunities for and the recovery of handicapped and disabled people and sick children.

The first adult runners set off at 16:00 for their chosen distance, which could be completed on a new route for the twelfth Runway Run, the airport’s charity run.

This time, the runners started from the engine testing area, then left the closed Runway I, passed the airport hangars, and they once again ran along a Tu-154 aircraft, formerly a member of the Malév fleet, recently restored and now managed by the Aviation Cultural Centre (ACC).

This not only allowed the runners to complete the distance in a unique location for a worthy cause, but also to catch a glimpse of areas formerly seen only by a few or from afar.

Runway Run has traditionally symbolised the aviation industry coming together, but every year civilians paying the entry fee can also join through a social media competition.

This year’s high number of participants reflects the special atmosphere of the airport and the charitable purpose of the event: the organisers registered over 1000 runners. Budapest Airport will provide detailed information about this year’s donation later.

In addition to the distances announced for adults and children, the 12th Runway Run offered a Fun Run category this year as well, in which the smallest children could compete for the sheer joy of movement, either independently or accompanied by a parent.

The fastest runners in each category received their awards at the closing ceremony from the representatives of the airport operator and the main sponsors of the Ments Életet Foundation, Olympic champion swimmer Dr. Sándor Wladár, the president of the Hungarian Swimming Association and Tamás Darnyi, four-time Olympic champion swimmer.

Budapest Airport donates nearly 20 million HUF from the proceeds of the Runway Run

On the last Saturday of August, Budapest Airport held its twelfth annual Runway Run charity race. More than a thousand athletes took part in this year’s event, which raised more than 19 million HUF in entry fees. Budapest Airport, operated by VINCI Airports, divided the amount equally between the Save Lives Foundation, which helps sick children to recover, and the SUHANJ! Foundation, which supports disabled athletes.

Debuting with a new route this year, the Runway Run brought together more than a thousand people, representatives of the aviation industry and the beneficiary foundations, Budapest Airport’s partners and social media followers to compete in a unique environment and to support a noble cause with their registration fees.

From the 19,884,768 HUF raised from entry fees, Budapest Airport has donated 9,942,384 HUF each to the Save Lives Foundation and the SUHANJ! Foundation, at a presentation ceremony this week. This brings the total amount of donations collected from the charity run to over 120 million HUF in 12 years.

The Save Lives Foundation makes the dreams of children with serious, life-threatening diseases come true, supporting their recovery.

Proceeds from the Runway Run are used to fund three main programs: the Dream School supports the integration of children returning to daily life after treatment, through school and education programs, the Dream Commando supports the families of children recovering from serious diseases and the Dream Wizards team makes the secret wishes and dreams of children with life-threatening diseases come true.

The SUHANJ! Foundation will use the donation, amongst other things, for equipment - hand cycles, running strollers - to support sports for people with disabilities, and to develop the SUHANJ! Fitness, an integrated fitness center for disabled and able-bodied people, operated by the foundation.

 “Every year, we are proud to see see the unity and community that is created by the runners,” said Katalin Valentínyi, the chief communication and government relations officer of Budapest Airport.

She added: “The race has now gone beyond uniting just the aviation industry, with hundreds of our partners, representatives of the foundations and followers of our social media channels coming together on race day to run for a good cause at one of the most unique venues in the country, Budapest Airport. We are delighted to donate the nearly 20 million HUF raised from Runway Run entry fees to the foundations again this year.”

Source: 
Budapest Airport

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Runway Run: Athletes to Race at Budapest Airport Again this August

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