he streets of Granada vibrated this Sunday under the steps of nearly 4,000 runners who gathered for the 19th edition of the Padre Marcelino Memorial Popular Race, sport and solidarity. The event not only broke participation records but transformed the city into a stage where sport and solidarity merged in perfect harmony.
With registrations sold out weeks in advance, the officially certified 10-kilometer race welcomed 2,400 athletes, while the youngest ones won hearts in the endearing “Chupetín” race. The spirit of Father Marcelino Álvarez, who dedicated his life to promoting values through sport, was present in the atmosphere.
“This is not just a race, it’s a torrent of life,” confessed an emotional Fr. Antonio Carrión, one of its founders. Each stride of the participants will contribute to building six new classrooms in Sierra Leone, where 600 children await a better future, in addition to supporting the local Food Bank, sport and solidarity.
Amid cheers and applause, entire families crossed the finish line at Santo Tomás de Villanueva School. As a young runner summarized with his newly hung medal: “Here we all win.” And Granada, indeed, won in community, solidarity, and memory, through Sport and solidarity.
Local and international solidarity
This year, the solidarity dimension took special prominence. The funds raised will go toward building six primary school classrooms in rural Bamoi (Sierra Leone), benefiting more than 600 children. Additionally, for each runner who completed the 10 km, 1 euro will be donated to the Granada Food Bank.
