Red Cross marathon to collect toys for needy children

The Travesia de Reyes is collecting toys for children across the Region of Murcia.

Can you help? All donations of toys will be very welcome
Amateur runners will undertake a 3-day marathon of solidarity, covering 240 kilometres, through 25 of the municipalities in the Region of Murcia. The runners will stop en route to collect previously donated toys which will subsequently be distributed on Reyes (the Kings’ Day, 6th January), to families with children faced with social and economic difficulties.

The goal is that no child is left without a gift on Reyes ( Kings’ Day). Anyone interested in donating toys may do so at any local Red Cross facility, whether their municipality is included in the athletes’ itinerary or not.  

In the municipalities included in the runners’ itinerary there will be a collection point that, in some cases, will be located in the local Assembly of the Red Cross and, in others, at a mobile point set by the local council, who will coordinate the collection of toys.
A presentation of all the donations collected at collection points set up in collaboration with institutions and local administrations will be made to the Red Cross on the day before the arrival of the runners in their area.

Toys must be new and not second hand and citizens can deliver non perishable food or  acquire equity security tickets worth five euros or make a donation for this specific campaign to BMN (Cajamurcia) account number 0487 0001 68 2000529820.

The Red Cross will carry out the distribution of toys in collaboration with municipal services in each municipality. However, the NGO has already produced a very extensive register of vulnerable families with children, based on reports from social workers, who have established a prioritization of needs.

The event covers a distance far greater than a normal marathon and starts on December 6, at Alhama de Murcia. It will take place in three stages, over very varied terrain.  It is anticipated that twenty athletes from the Ermita Club Deportivo de Burgos will be participating, but is open to any citizen who can cover even small sections as "moral support." Participants will run sections, although one or two stalwarts are determined to complete all the stages!

On the first day, the marathon will pass through Totana, Aledo, Pliego, Mula, Bullas, Cehegín and Caravaca de la Cruz, where runners  will spend the night. On December 7, the athletes will travel  through Moratalla, Calasparra, Cieza, Abarán, Blanca, Ricote, Ojós , Villanueva de Segura, Ulea, Archena and Ceuta. The last day, December 8th, will cover Lorquí, Molina de Segura, Alguazas, Las Torres de Cotillas and Alcantarilla until they reach Murcia.

CAMPAIGN: AHORA + QUE NUNCA
The regional president of Red Cross reported on the progress of the campaign Ahora + Que Nunca begun in September in order to encourage solidarity and community commitment in the population of Murcia through social organizations.
As a result of this campaign, the Red Cross has raised 80,000 euros, has provided assistance to over 3,000 people and distributed more than 150,000 kilograms of food. The NGO continues to receive requests and pleas for help and acting as an intermediary, tries to respond to the best of its ability.  

Route timings
6th December ( 98km)
Alhama 8am, Totana 9.10am, Aledo 10.15am, Pliego 2.15pm, Mula 2.45pm, Bullas 5.35pm, Cehegín 7.35pm, Caravaca 8.20pm
7th December (108km)
Moratalla 9.30am, Calasparra 11.30am, Cieza 3.30pm, Abarán 4.35pm, Blanca 5.05pm, Ricote 5.55pm, Ojos 6.15pm, Villanueva 6.35pm, Ulea 6.40pm, Archena 7.20pm, Ceuti 7.55pm, Lorqui 8.10pm
8th December(35km)
Molina 9am, Alguazas 9.20am, Torres de cotillas 9.45pm, Javali Nueva 10.15am, Alcantarilla 10.35am, E de Burgos 11.05am, Nonduermas 11.25am and Murcia 12.15am ( Centro Comercial Thader)