Pleven Friendship Marathon, 18 May 2025

28.04.2022

The Eighth Pleven Friendship Marathonin support of children with intellectual difficulties

Distances from 3 to 42 km, Fun Run Kids race, free urban cross and outdoor Park+ games at the eighth edition of the event in Pleven

The Pleven Marathon — the most iconic sporting event for the region, returns on 22 May 2022. It is expected that the event will once again bring together hundreds of fans of active lifestyle united around a common cause. With its seven editions, which attracted more than three thousand participants from different countries, the Pleven Friendship Marathon confirmed its name and became one of the most loved and awaited sporting events in the country. Offering a wide variety of disciplines, the marathon has developed over the years not only as a competition for established athletes, but also as a family event, provoking people in a wide age range to participate in sport. The youngest competitor so far is just 2 years old, the oldest is 84, and there is already an 85-year-old registered for this year’s 42.2 km run.

Картинката не може да има празен alt атрибут; името на файла е Pleven1.jpg

To make the event even more attractive and accessible for beginner runners, the organizers include the increasingly popular 10 km distance for the second consecutive year. Thus, the race now has six main disciplines, including the classic marathon (42.2 km), half marathon (21.1 km), relay (2 x 10.55 km), 10.55 km, 3 km ‘I Can’ free mass cross, as well as Fun Run Kids – children’s run with different distances according to age group with free registration. Apart from the racing part, the Eighth Pleven Marathon will also offer an attractive program in the central city square. It includes the Park+ outdoor games promoting an active lifestyle in an accessible and fun way. All city visitors will be able to participate in mini-volleyball, tennis, dancing lessons and other activities.

The Pleven Marathon is not just a sports competition, but a family event with a charitable cause. This year’s edition will be held under the motto ‘Run in Pleven in support of children with intellectual difficulties’. All participants and those who decide to make a donation will support the initiative of the Bulgarian Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in Pleven. The funds raised will be used to purchase materials for the construction of a pottery art therapy corner at the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration for Children with Disabilities in Pleven. The cause is a continuation of the initiative of the second edition of the marathon in 2015, when thanks to donations and funds from competition participation fees two halls for motor rehabilitation and Montessori activities were set aside and equipped at the Center for Social Rehabilitation and Integration for Children with Disabilities in Pleven. Anyone wishing to support the cause of the Eighth Pleven Friendship Marathon can do so by donating on the website of the event — https://plevenmarathon.com/cause/.

The Pleven Friendship Marathon is open to both professionals and amateurs and everyone who wants to get in a good mood. Registration is open on the website plevenmarathon.com, and the organizers provide enrolment for participation in the 3 km ‘I Can’ mass cross, for children who join the Fun Run Kids event, and veterans over 60 years of age. For the second consecutive year, the race course is also open to people with disabilities, who can join without a participation fee.

“In this way we would like to show that these people are an integral part of our society and have equal rights with everyone else”

says Stanimira Georgieva, co-organizer of the marathon

The event will be held with the help of volunteers from the country and abroad, who will be involved in both the preliminary organisation and on the day of the event. Among those who decided to contribute for another year are whole families who will come to Pleven especially to support the marathon and its cause. The youngest ones who have signed up to volunteer so far are only 6 and 7 years old.

The eighth marathon in Pleven is organized by leading foundations and social enterprises in Bulgaria whose main mission is to support people with different abilities and disadvantages: Maria’s World Foundation, the Social Future —Jamba Foundation, Eyes–Open, National Alliance for Social Responsibility, in partnership with Pleven Municipality, SCLA Phoenix, SC Elite Running from Romania, Bulgarian Association for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, BCause Foundation, Autism Today. The event is held with the support of many companies for which corporate and social responsibility, contribution to building a fair social environment and a sustainable future are at the core of their business.

More information about the Pleven Marathon:

Video from 7th Friendship Marathon Pleven 2021

Photos from 7th Friendship Marathon Pleven 2021

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