Solidarity Run Brings 1,200 Together for Refugees in Blanchardstown
Over 1,200 people will gather in Blanchardstown on October 11 for a solidarity run supporting refugees and those living in extreme poverty. The event, organised by the Irish charity Sanctuary Runners, forms part of the Government's programme marking Ireland's EU Council Presidency.
Representatives from EU member states will join migrants, refugees and asylum seekers on the course at Sport Ireland's National Cross Country track. President Catherine Connolly will launch the event, which has drawn support from across the country.
What is the Sanctuary Runners solidarity run?
Sanctuary Runners uses sport to connect communities with refugees, migrants and people living in direct provision. The organisation has been running weekly park runs in Poppintree, and this October's event brings that work onto a national stage.
The run is supported by GAA International, the London Marathon Foundation, the Olympic Refuge Foundation, UNHCR, Sport Ireland and Athletics Ireland.
'I've gained a new family': A participant's story
Abdul Aziz Ismail (34) arrived in Ireland from Ghana six months ago. He will be among those running on October 11.
“Life has not been easy. Leaving behind my friends and family was very difficult but being a part of this has really helped,” he said.
“Leaving behind my family and everything I had ever known was a pain I wasn't prepared for. Every year on my birthday, my children would run into my room to wake me up and singing to me. Sitting alone on my birthday in a foreign country without my family was heart-breaking. I felt completely empty.”
Mr Ismail, who worked in construction in Ghana, now volunteers with Sanctuary Runners during Saturday park runs in Poppintree.
“This group has been there for me. It makes me feel I haven't lost my family, I've gained a new one. It really has been a blessing,” he said.
“It has helped soften the pain of being thousands of miles from home. It feels like I haven't lost my family, I've gained a new support system to help me carry the weight.”
Why sport matters for community integration
Dr Úna May, CEO of Sport Ireland, highlighted the role of shared physical activity in building connections.
“There's been some great work in fostering emotional and social support by uniting people through regular runs and other shared physical activities,” she said.
“It's a great example of how sport has a tremendous power in strengthening community integration and we're delighted to welcome so many people to the campus to take part in it.”
What does this mean for Ireland's commitment to refugees?
Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, framed the run within Ireland's broader humanitarian efforts.
“Showing support and solidarity for people in displacement and poverty is central to Ireland's work around the world,” he said.
“At a time of unprecedented humanitarian need, Ireland is bucking the trend globally by continuing to increase its investment in development and humanitarian aid.”
How park runs help newcomers integrate
Oliur Rahman and his wife Shahina Akther arrived in Ireland from Bangladesh in February. Weekly park runs with the charity have become a pathway into Irish society.
“It has being very meaningful for me,” said Mr Rahman (29).
“I have made so many friends, both Irish and from elsewhere, and I am so glad I joined. Meeting up with others to run or walk every week in Poppintree is a great way to get out and connect with people.”
The October 11 run promises to be more than a race. It is a statement of who we are as a people: open, welcoming and unwilling to look away from those who need us most. In a world that often turns its back, this is Ireland at its best.