SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN

Sure, it’s not a conventional way to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but that’s part of the appeal that has drawn larger and larger crowds each year. It’s the first run of the new year, SNF RUN: FIRST RUN from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
 

The run is taking place as part of the holiday celebrations at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). It starts at four minutes past, right after a spectacular fireworks show heralds the change of the year, covering a three-km route around an SNFCC decked out in festive lights.

This year’s SNF RUN: FIRST RUN coincides with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Spyros Louis, who won the first modern Olympic marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. To mark this special anniversary, commemorative cups will be awarded to the first male and first female runner to finish the New Year’s race. They echo the silver cup designed by Michel Bréal that was awarded to Spyros Louis for his victory, which was acquired by SNF at a Christie’s auction and is now exhibited permanently at the SNFCC.

Fir trees glowing with lights and dazzling lighting installations in Stavros Niarchos Park, a concert by Jerome Kaluta and his big band, treats, balloons for kids, even more music, the ice rink at the Canal—this time made of synthetic ice that consumes zero energy—and many more delights set the stage for New Year’s Eve at the SNFCC. And as every year, a big party at the Agora will be awaiting the runners on their return, this time with a set by Italian DJ Beppe Loda!

Register for the run and learn more.

The SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN is not competitive in nature, but official times will be kept so that runners can track their performance in achieving their first goal for 2023.
The run is held under the organizational supervision of Regeneration & Progress and the medical supervision of the First Orthopedic Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

Participating means offering kids a helping hand
SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN once again has a charitable mission. With a minimum contribution of €5 (or more for those who wish), runners have the opportunity to support two nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children: Karkinaki and the Kids Creative Learning Centers of the Municipality of Kos.

Get to know the organizations this year’s run supports

KARKINAKI
The nonprofit KARKINAKI was created by parents of children with cancer to bridge the information gap that exists today in Greece about childhood and adolescent cancer and to actively support families affected by the disease. Among other things, KARKINAKI supports scientific and medical work focusing on childhood and adolescent cancer; supports the operation of organized psychosocial support systems for children, adolescents, and their families; and maintains the website karkinaki.gr, Greece’s first and only portal for information on childhood and adolescent cancer.

Donations from the SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN will support the implementation of social activities for children and adolescents following their treatment, as well as psycho-educational programs for the whole family. The aim of the program is to help kids get back into the swing of daily life and come to terms with the need for long-term medical and psychosocial monitoring.

Svourenio KDAP MEA of the Municipality of Kos
Founded in 2004, Svourenio KDAP MEA of the Municipality of Kos today hosts people from 6 to 45 years old with intellectual and motor disabilities. Its aim is to help people with disabilities integrate into society, while also helping society gain familiarity with diversity. Svourenio's programming encourages each participant to cultivate new skills. In recent years, in collaboration with primary schools and other special education centers, it has implemented customized swimming and cycling programs; workshops in ceramics, soap making, and candle making; informational seminars in which special education experts, doctors, and social scientists take part; and more.

Donations from the SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN will help cover the cost of operating these programs, as well as of a visit by a group of students and teachers to a similar center in a European country with highly developed social programming for people with disabilities.

*Please note that the SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN will be conducted in accordance with the laws and guidelines in effect at the time of the race as determined by the relevant authorities—always with the goal of safeguarding the health of the public and participants, and of limiting the spread of COVID-19. Registered runners will be informed in advance of any modifications to the conditions of participation, as well as health measures which may be implemented before and during the race.

* Contributions to each of this year’s partner nonprofits will be made online (via debit or credit card), through the nonprofit organization Regeneration & Progress, which supervises the organization of the race. Regeneration & Progress will then transfer the full amount designated for each of the partner nonprofit organizations (Karkinaki and the Kids Creative Learning Centers of the Municipality of Kos) to them.

*The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is a philanthropic organization that operates exclusively by making grants to nonprofit organizations. SNF does not solicit or accept donations from individuals, corporations, or other types of organizations.

* The SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN is implemented through an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), which covers the full cost of the race. The run is held under the organizational supervision of Regeneration & Progress and the medical supervision of the First Orthopedic Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). The event is implemented in collaboration with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

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