It is a huge banner that hangs from the roof of the green house of the Bellevue di Monaco social cooperative almost to Müllerstrasse. The poster, in the colors of the 1972 Olympic Games, shows pictograms of runners, wheelchair users, pushchairs, musicians and cyclists, who all seem to have one goal: to pass the “Giro di Monaco” on Munich’s Altstadtring. The mass run, which is intended to mobilize as many Munich residents as possible, starts on May 15th on Blumenstrasse. It should be the first complete closure of the Altstadtring.
According to Bellevue board member Till Hofmann, the voluntary donations for participation go to a social project in Poland, among other things, in order to provide targeted help for refugees from the Ukraine. Just one month before the starting gun, almost 2,000 people had registered for the “Run for Peace”, as the Giro is also called, and Bellevue has already collected more than 45,000 euros in donations. “We hope for more than 5,000 runners,” says Till Hofmann – and thus for a donation goal of around 125,000 euros.
Anyone can really take part, says the cultural organizer and Bellevue board member, who will be at the start himself. It’s not about the competition of who is the first to run the 5.4 kilometers around the old town, but about solidarity: “We think it’s a nice sign.” The project is not only supported by Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter, who as patron says: “Munich has always shown that helpfulness and cosmopolitanism are central values for our city. That’s why I hope that as many Munich residents as possible will send a strong signal for set a peaceful Europe.” According to Till Hofmann, all democratic parties are behind the charity run. The CSU parliamentary group also started together to run for peace.
The charity run was professionally organized in advance. Flo Weber, drummer of the Sportfreunde Stiller, has conducted interviews with numerous celebrities and aid workers from the refugee field, short video clips of which are currently being published on social media. Pastor Rainer Maria Schiessler of St. Maximilian, when asked why people like to help, says solidarity is part of human nature: “I can’t really be happy when I know that the other person next to me is unhappy.”
Many artists also want to spread a little happiness on May 15th. Ecco di Lorenzo and his Innersoul will appear on stage, Martina Schwarzmann has also already agreed. Sportfreunde Stiller, who have supported the Bellevue di Monaco social project from the start, may also give a concert. The “Giro di Monaco – Run for Peace” then goes directly into the street festival in Bellevue and Glockenbachwerkstatt. It should be a big festival for peace and solidarity.
Registration and donations at https://giro-di-monaco.de