Running for Change: My Journey to Make a Difference

In the heart of my passion for running lies a deeper purpose – a commitment to creating positive change. This year, I lace up my sneakers not just for miles but for a meaningful cause. I have decided to take on a trail running challenge in Azores on May 4th this year and help raise funds that will support 3 projects in Romania with a great social impact. All this will be in collaboration with the Brussels Donor Circle organisation. 

I joined the first Brussels Donor Circle event in 2017 and since then I have stayed close to the community. They provide an interactive and dynamic way for NGOs or initiative groups to raise funds to support their projects in front of an audience of people who want to make a difference in their community. Donors get the chance to take the lead in the philanthropic process and see how quickly their hard-earned money changes lives not just for a day, but makes them better in the long run, if not forever. 

Each year they bring together the Romanian diaspora in Belgium to support three organisations with impact in Romania. Join me on this journey, where every mile is a testament to our collective strength. Together, we’re not just running; we’re sprinting towards positive social change.

• Rasaritul de Argint is an organisation from the West part of Romania.Their aim is to improve the health of seniors. Within the project "Digital solutions for seniors" they aim to scale up the seniorfit.ro platform. They will launch a new live facial yoga program to stimulate the 40 facial muscles and to improve lymph circulation. Facial yoga is not itself an indicator of behavioral change, but a bridge to draw members into the community and drive engagement.
• Casa Naturii is an organisation working in vulnerable rural communities in Transylvania. They have been organising a literacy club for the children in the area for the last 7 years. With your support, they will continue their literacy programme with 60 children from three main villages.
• Civic Radauti will continue to develop the Academy of Community Organizing, a project started in 2022, which supported the establishment of a network of civic groups in the rural area near Rădăuți municipality. Now they want to expand the network in 5 new small communities, to organise debates with the candidates to the local elections taking place this year and to monitor the activity of the current local councillors for the last four years.

As I hit the pavement, each stride becomes a step towards a better future. This fundraising running campaign isn’t just about breaking personal records; it’s about breaking barriers in the lives of those in need. With every donation, we’re not only funding the run but also fuelling impactful initiatives that make a real difference in these Romanian communities.

Let’s turn each footfall into a beacon of hope, transforming the ordinary act of running into an extraordinary force for good. Support my cause, be part of the movement, and let’s stride together towards a brighter, more compassionate future.

You can follow the Brussels Donor Circle here.