Cork-based charity reworks Christmas classic for festive appeal

A charity that uses running to bring together locals, migrants, and refugees in Ireland has launched a festive campaign accompanied by the reworking of a classic Christmas song.

The Sanctuary Runners charity was launched in 2018 by Fermoy-based journalist Graham Clifford, and last month it was named the world’s best community sports initiative for refugee integration, at the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) Awards in Copenhagen.

Earlier this month, the group provided a guard of honour for its long-term patron, former president Michael D Higgins, as he left Áras an Uachtaráin for the last time.

Now, the Sanctuary Runners have launched the Step Up for Solidarity: 12Ks of Christmas Campaign, which invites people to get active in December and support their appeal.

Accompanying the campaign will be a rewritten version of the hymn 12 Days of Christmas. 

Each day between Tuesday, December 9, and Saturday, December 20, the song will be performed by two Sanctuary runners and accompanied by an online feed of daily videos featuring running groups from across the country.

Support

All funds will support Sanctuary Runners groups in Mallow, Youghal, Fermoy, Cobh, and Cork city, and will enable the charity to create new groups throughout the county.

With 40 Sanctuary Runner groups nationwide, the organisation builds bridges between communities through friendship, respect, and shared experiences.

The Christmas campaign encourages participants to engage in any sort of physical activity, such as walking, running, or swimming 1km a day for 12 days — or to simply make a donation to support Sanctuary Runners’ work.

Anna Pringle, Sanctuary Runners CEO, said the group works across Ireland to bring people together in solidarity, friendship, and respect, regardless of nationality or legal status.

“We know that so many people want to find ways to support initiatives that build bridges in the community,” she said.

For further information, see https://sanctuaryrunners.ie.