Are you interested in a solidarity-based sporting adventure?
On 1 March 2024, Viva Salud will once again run the Palestine Marathon to draw attention to the freedom of movement of Palestinians.
Together with our Palestinian partners, we have been organising solidarity trips to Palestine for years to raise awareness of the struggle for liberation. For a week, we travel through the occupied West Bank, meet Viva Salud's partner organisations and learn more about their work. From our base in Ramallah, we visit key cities such as Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem. Local guides tell us about Israel's illegal occupation and its impact on the daily lives of thousands of Palestinians.
The highlight of the trip, on 1 March, is the Freedom of Movement Marathon. We will pass by the apartheid wall, Israeli checkpoints, two refugee camps and run through the ancient streets of Bethlehem. The marathon highlights the restricted freedom of movement of Palestinians, a direct consequence of Israeli colonialism. You can run 7 km, 10 km, 21 km or, for the more experienced, the full marathon.
Fancy giving it a go? One of our runners made a great vlog video about her experience!
Here's something to convince you even more to join the marathon and support the Palestinian struggle:
What does this entail?
A preparation programme:
Before the marathon and the trip, you will need to attend four information sessions and will receive an initial introduction to the work of our partners. Bisan and Health Work Committees (HWC). During these four sessions, we will prepare you for the trip. We will discuss the history of Palestine, the current political situation, plan the trip, and share safety rules.
Due to the importance of these information sessions, attendance is compulsory.
Each session will take place at the Viva Salud offices, Chaussée de Haecth, 53 in Brussels. These have already been scheduled (The exact time will be communicated well in advance.) :
- Saturday, 18 November
- Saturday, 16 December
- Saturday, 20 January
- Saturday, 10 February
Fundraising for the fight for the right to health:
In the months leading up to our departure, we will collectively raise a minimum of €500 per person for the work of Viva Salud and our partners in Palestine. The trip and participation in the marathon are a great opportunity to raise awareness among our friends, family and colleagues about the situation in Palestine. We will support you with tips and advice for successful fundraising!
A memorable trip from 26 February to 3 March 2024:
During the trip, we will visit the human rights organisation Bisan and the health organisation Health Work Committees (HWC). Both organisations suffer greatly from Israeli repression. Through these visits to Jerusalem and the West Bank, you will be able to see for yourself the work of our partners and their impact on the struggle for the right to health in Palestine.
Travel arrangements
We estimate the cost of this trip to be €800. This would include:
- The return flight
- Local transport
- Meals
- Accommodation for the week
- Race registration
Questions and registration
As space is limited, we ask that you include a short cover letter of no more than one page when you register. Introduce yourself briefly and tell us why you are so enthusiastic about joining us in Palestine.
If you have any questions about the trip, please contact us directly on +32 470 82 72 22. Or by email: victor@vivasalud.be.
Fill in the form below before 30 October to register. We will keep you informed shortly!