Back in July 2018, WIT Software decided to launch a CSR initiative to promote healthy habits of exercising and, at the same time, to give back to the community. We called it RUN4ACHILD.
In 2020, due to the Covid-19 lockdown, we had to interrupt our challenges, but we are finally ready to start again. Run4aChild is back and before we start our next challenge, we want to give you a little recap!
In the last 2 years, we held 7 challenges, we ran more than half a MILLION KM (550.772 km to be precise), we helped 210 children, had a total of 832 runners and 192 teams. We are very proud of this and we can say out loud: ALL of the previous challenge goals were met!!! If you ran then, you can check your previous stats in: ‘My Profile’.
If you are new to Run4aChild, please be our guest and sign up here.
With the first fantastic results and major adherence for our small communities in the first challenge, we climbed the hill and set ambitious goals for our runners. Back in 2018, we had 2 challenges that were quite successful: in the first challenge we ran 38.478 kms with 393 participants. The selected cause was the institution “Casa de Formação Rainha Santa”. We donated school materials, books and a new computer room. Due to this challenge, 23 girls can study and complete their schoolwork and grow. In the second challenge, we ran 64.608 kms, we had 375 participants and our cause was to help the institution “Aldeia SOS Guarda”. We were able to give the 27 children living in this institution, new clothing, sport equipment and musical instruments along with a new game room, decorated and painted by WIT employees.
In 2019, we had four challenges with amazing causes: “Associação Protectora da Criança”, which is a home for children who lost their homes and were severely affected by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. We ran to provide survival kits that were delivered to children and their families. These kits included: clothing, cooking devices, construction materials, water purifiers and hygiene items. In our second challenge of 2019, we helped Margarida, a little young girl that was born with a brain lesion and we helped contribute to a surgery in Germany that would improve her movements and contribute to a better quality of life. We also ran for “Palhaços d’Ospital” so that we could help them continue their Paediatric Oncology visits to Units in Aveiro, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, and Viseu by giving the kids toys and clown materials.
Until the end of 2019, we ran the distance from the Earth to the Moon. But then 2020 came and we were forced to reduce the pace as the world stopped.
After this pause, we know we have to keep on running and helping, for our well-being, but also because so many kids out there need us to run.
Our goal is still to be able to make our small contribution in the lives of more children, while we are developing a healthier lifestyle among the community.
Stay tuned. A new challenge is coming! Run4aChild is back, better than ever!! Check it out here.
Keep on running,
Run4aChild Team 🏃