Freedom Charity Run 2015
The Freedom Charity Run, the initiative of three marathon runners, Mariusz Szeib and Daniel Wcisło, entrepreneurs from Poznań and Ludwig Schlereth, the notary from Halle, will take place for the third time this year. Both Poles and the German are members of the largest charity organisation worldwide - LIONS. The idea to run from Poland to the World Convention of Lions Organisation, held in Europe for the first time in 2013. The Polish-German team, running 423 km shoulder by shoulder from Szczecin to Hamburg wanted to show solidarity and friendly neighbourhood of once strongly divided, and currently perfectly cooperating, European states.
In 2014 the 25th anniversary of communism collapse in Europe was celebrated. Therefore, the FCR 2014 was obvious Gdańsk-Berlin. This time, the patronage over the run, leading, inter alia, across Kościerzyna, Chojnice, Poznań, Gorzów, Kostrzyn and Seelow was granted by both the President of the Republic of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski, and the worldwide symbol of liberty, President Lech Wałęsa. The co-patron of the run was also the father of the Polish economic transformation, professor Leszek Balcerowicz. Accompanied by amateur runners, school pupils and often also the whole running families, for 10 days, in the sun and rain, in the heat and cold, the runners laboriously, kilometre after kilometre, covered this 621 kilometre route. They have "run" together for over 16 thousand Euro. The total amount was allocated for aid to children in Ukraine.
This year, in connection with the presidency of Latvia in the EU, the Polish-German team has decided to connect even four countries by the run. Starting on 3 September 2015 from the Royal Castle in Warsaw, running via Wyszków, Łomża, Grajewo and Suwałki, the Lithuanian Marijampole, Kėdainiai, Kaunas and Panevezys together with Latvian Bauska, covering equally 700 km, they plan to reach Riga on 12 September. On the same day, runners from the neighbouring Estonia will also come to the Latvian capital.
We run – We serve
With the "Freedom Charity Run 2015" charitable purposes are pursued:
The charity target of FCR 2015 is to allocate the aid, fifty-fifty, to Latvian children suffering from cancer, and to follow-up the assistance to children in Ukraine.
Individuals, businesses and institutions that support this run with cash or in kind donations are particularly mentioned on this website. For each support a donation receipt can be issued. Similarly, a promotion by sponsoring is possible (against invoice).
Bank account:
Saalesparkasse
IBAN DE95800537621894029352
BIC NOLADE21HAL
The Route
The run will start in Warsaw on 3 September 2015 at 9:00 o'clock at the Royal Castle.
The route of 700 km will take us via Wyszków, Łomża, Prostki and Suwałki, the Lithuanian Marijampole, Kėdainiai, Kaunas and Panevezys together with Latvian Bauska. The participants will reach Riga on Saturday, 12 September 2015. The run ends at 17:00 o'clock at the National Library.
The Idea
The FCR 2015 run leading across four countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia shall be one of the actions to underline the Latvian EU Presidency. It will also be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate solidarity of Europe with the Baltic States.
The patronage of former Presidents of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, the countries across which the route of the run shall lead, the symbolising freedom all over the world – President Lech Wałęsa and President Valdas Adamkus, shall emphasise both the social and the charity goal of the run. It will show the unity of our countries, so much desired nowadays.
Patronage / Greetings
Lech Wałęsa became the patron of this run again, this time together with former president of Lithuania (1998-2009) Valdas Adamkus, former president of Latvia (1999-2007) Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Rolf Nikel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Warsaw, and other presidents of the cities on the route:
The letters of the adaption of the patronage:
