This year, for the second time, the Ugly Sweater Run will be held in Debrecen, one of the aims of which is just to get active and enjoy sport together, while the other – more prominent – the aim is charity: to collect gifts for families in need. One of Debrecen Advent’s most popular community events takes place on Saturdays, 10th December.
Galambos-Parti Regina, the founder of Bakancslista Hungary, organised the first Christmas Ronda Sweater Run in 2015 together with her husband, Galambos Pal. The event is a real family event: young and old, athletic and less agile, can participate in the fun run, as the distances can be covered by sprinting, jogging, or even walking.
Thanks to the support of Metál-Sheet Kft., the ugly sweaters will also run in the city centre of Debrecen: starting from Baltazár Dezső Square, passing through the Piac Street pedestrian zone and the fabulous Debrecen Advent Market. At the assembly station, before the start, Tibor Tisza, one-time Hungarian champion, five-time Hungarian national football team player, and other top athletes will warm up with the participants, and then the 5.2 km distance can be run individually or in a relay, with a pram or a puppy, with family or colleagues – in ugly sweaters, of course. The event is organised in cooperation with Főnix Rendezvényszervező Kft., the organiser of the Advent and Flower Carnival programmes in Debrecen
“We think it is important to note that altruism and helping children is not only important at the end of the year, but it is also our explicit goal to participate in charity events and support such events in the future,” – said Zsófia Máthé, marketing manager of Metál-Sheet Ltd., the sponsor of the Christmas Ugly Sweater Run in Debrecen.
Charity
We would like to make Christmas better for hundreds of families living in difficult circumstances in Debrecen and its surrounding area, so the donations offered by the runners will be distributed to the families through the DMJV Family and Child Welfare Centre. The organizers are looking for gifts that can surprise children under 18: toys, books, maybe sweets that a child would enjoy. Donations will be collected at the Christmas Ugly Sweater Run assembly point on Baltazar Dezső Square on 10th December between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
“We spend 365 days of the year trying to help our fellow human beings who are less fortunate, and we find that there is a greater willingness to donate during the Advent period. It is very important that we look out for each other in today’s difficult times, and for each other’s families as much as we can. The donations to the Christmas Sweater Run will also help children who spend their everyday life and holidays in a more difficult situation to have an experience,” said Aurélia Orosz Ibolya, head of the Family and Child Welfare Centre of the DMJV.
“We spend 365 days of the year trying to help our fellow human beings who are less fortunate, and we find that there is a greater willingness to donate during the Advent period. It is very important that we look out for each other in today’s difficult times, and for each other’s families as much as we can. The donations to the Christmas Sweater Run will also help children who spend their everyday life and holidays in a more difficult situation to have an experience,” said Aurélia Orosz Ibolya, head of the Family and Child Welfare Centre of the DMJV.
Let’s make Christmas brighter with a nice gift, following the principle of “giving good for good” by collecting items in good condition and sweets with a longer expiry date: children’s toys, soft toys, children’s books, board games, chocolates, salty sweets, other sweets. The organisers are waiting for donations at the race venue.
All you have to do is get out your ugliest, ugliest, or funniest Christmas jumper, hat, scarf – and running shoes, of course – and bring a parcel for the needy.
Ronda Pulcsi cserebere
Bring along your tired ugly sweater so that others can enjoy the fun pattern that you’ve had so many great photos taken of you in over the years.
In exchange, look for your new favorite roast turkey, Santa or glow-in-the-dark wonder to await rebirth in your closet at a Christmas event… even this run!
Participation in the event is free, it is possible to register for the Budapest and Debrecen events by specifying the city in a message sent to the e-mail address hello@bakancslistamagyarorszag.hu
Programme – Ronda Sweater Run on 10th December:
10:00 a.m. Gathering at Baltazár Dezső Square
10:50 a.m. Common warm-up
11:00 a.m. START: Debrecen, Baltazár Dezső tér – Hunyadi Street – Rákóczi Street – Burgundia Street – Kossuth Street – Piac Street pedestrian zone (Advent Market) – Füvészkert Street – Múzeum Street – Baltazár Dezső tér
1:00 p.m. FINISH
The organizers ask that those who are sure to participate register for the events in advance so that the number of runners preparing for the starting line can be seen. Pre-registration takes place at the e-mail address: hello@bakancslistamagyarorszag.hu, while it is possible to request a start number on the spot until 10:45.
