Running 2600 kilometers in one evening? It’s probably impossible for one person alone when many people get together, but it could work with the goal that Michael Raab is striving for as the organizer of the “Run for Hope”. On Thursday, September 15, volunteers from Unterföhring, Ismaning and Garching and the surrounding area are asked to do a few laps around Lake Feringa for a good cause after work. Anyone can take part: whether you are a marathon candidate or a walker, whether you are young or old, whether you have a disability or not.
The “Run for Hope” sees itself as an inclusive run without a competitive character, the focus is on the sense of community. Entry fees and donations go to the association Special Olympics Bayern. Michael Raab from Munich, himself a marathon runner, running coach and non-fiction author, initiated the run five years ago. “We deliberately leave the stopwatch at home this evening,” says Raab. Rivalry shouldn’t arise in the first place, after all it’s over when the starting signal sounds. It’s important to him that everyone runs together, at their own pace and according to their possibilities: “We don’t separate like we do at the Olympic Games and the Paralympics.” Interruptions are also possible. From Raab’s point of view, Lake Feringasee is particularly suitable because it is easily accessible and the 2.6-kilometer circuit is barrier-free. Raab also learned to windsurf on the lake as a child and is connected to the place.
Garching, Ismaning and Unterföhring are also calling on their citizens to take part, and the three municipalities will be joint hosts next year in the run-up to the Special Olympics in Berlin. Together with the district and four other municipalities, they applied for the title of “Host Towns” and were selected to host a delegation of foreign athletes.
Associated with Host Town is the task of expanding the range of inclusive sports, leisure and participation opportunities in their own community. In preparation for this, the municipalities have already organized the inclusive “Garching Moves” sports day. In the “Run for Hope” people with and without disabilities now have the opportunity to get involved together.
The run starts on Thursday evening at 6 p.m., the meeting point is the “Feringas Restaurant” on the south-eastern side of the lake. Everyone runs as long and far as they like. You can register at www.laufcoaches.com/run-for-hope. The entry fee is 15 euros for adults, 7.50 euros for young people and 5 euros for children and is to be paid on site. Unterföhringer, Garchinger and Ismaninger are invited to run as part of the “Host Town 2023 GIU” team.