Athens Santa Run supports children welfare, sports

5 January 2020

Hundreds of runners dressed in Santa Claus suits took to the streets of the center of the Greek capital on Sunday for the 6th edition of the Athens Santa Run.

Organized by local sports clubs under the auspices of the City of Athens, the event which is held in many big cities across the world, started in Athens, aiming to assist people in need and help spread the cheer of the holiday season.

“It’s the 6th year we are holding the Athens Santa Run. As always, we get all dressed up and we run some 2 km and all the proceeds go to charity. This year we have chosen a fantastic charity, which supports 13 smaller children charities, Together for Children,” Marina Koutarelli, President of Spetses Mini Marathon and co-organizer of Athens Santa Run, told Xinhua.

Apart from Together for Children, proceeds from this year’s registration fees will go to the Culture, Sports & Youth Organization of the City of Athens (OPANDA) for maintenance and lighting of open-air municipal sports centers.

Families with babies in strollers, pet-lovers with their four-legged friends, gray-haired pensioners, and migrants, put on the red costumes and hats and participated in a short course in the city center.

“We run for a good cause. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas,” Thanassis who run with his two sons said.

Bronze Paralympic medallist and multi-sport athlete Makis Kalaras also took part in the run in his wheelchair.

“I came to run and celebrate, just like everyone else … Christmas is a celebration, sports is a celebration, so this run combines two in one,” he said.

Source: China.org.cn

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