s is tradition, within the framework of the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon, the Santa Eulària Kids Run Caixabank has been held on the morning of this Saturday, the sports proposal for children and young people of the Ibizan event. Thus, a total of 600 children have enjoyed this non-competitive race with the aim of being infected by the values of running. And moreover, they have done so in a unique setting such as the Marina of Santa Eulària des Riu.
There have been a total of six races, organized according to the ages of the participating boys and girls, adapting the distances in each case. The first to start, at 9:30 a.m., were the little ones from APNEEF. They were in charge of inaugurating this non-competitive race in which everyone showed that barriers do not exist. From this moment on, the rest of the scheduled waves followed: the Baby, for the youngest ones of the house, born between 2021, 2022 and 2023, who completed a symbolic course of 250 meters; the sub-8, for children born between 2018, 2019 and 2020; the sub-10, for children born in 2016 and 2017 (these two categories have faced a 500-meter circuit); the sub-12, for children born in 2014 and 2015, and a course of 1,000 meters; and finally the sub-14, with the participation of various adolescents (2012–2013) who have completed a course of 1,500 meters.
Commitment to APNEEF
As a guest of honor at the Santa Eulària Kids Run Caixabank, the Catalan athlete Álex Roca has attended, a runner with 76% cerebral palsy, who has not hesitated for a single moment to offer all his support and affection to the participants, as well as to serve as an example for children who suffer from some kind of difficulty or special need.
Also attending this event were Jota, a blind athlete who this afternoon will accompany the Catalan in a new challenge; Mario, a deaf-blind runner who will do the main distance of the marathon; and Dani Mateo, Olympic athlete and ambassador of the event.
Because the Santa Eulària Kids Run Caixabank is not only a springboard to bring running closer to the little ones, but also a vehicle for solidarity for the integration of other children with special needs. Thus, once again APNEEF (Association of People with Special Needs of Eivissa and Formentera) has been the official charity of the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon, and several children and adolescents belonging to this institution have also been participants of the event, completing a few meters of the course and feeling like true runners. Of course, all of them have received their well-deserved ‘finisher’ medal.
Thus, the Santa Eulària Ibiza Marathon remains faithful to its principles of making an inclusive event in which all members of the family can feel like protagonists, and furthermore, promote sport and healthy lifestyle habits among minors, making them participants of the true #RunAndFeel spirit.
