RCEurope - RunChallenge Europe

RunChallenge Europe aims to promote sport as a tool to improve health, social relations and quality of life of people with disabilities in Europe, and to build more welcoming and inclusive communities. There are around 87 million people with disabilities in Europe (1 in 4 adults). Despite there’s relevant data about the benefit of participation in sport by this target group, and despite the topic is addressed by EU policies, still the majority of disabled people in Europe face some barriers when it comes to sports. Even when participation is guaranteed, there is still a lack of inclusive activities, where people with and without disability can practice sport together. RunChallenge is a running/walking/rolling club open to people with and without disabilities, who run together beyond all differences and prejudices, guided by qualified coaches and educators, with the dream of participating in a marathon together. RunChallenge was born in Milan in 2016 and, in the last few years, it has already spread to 5 other Italian cities. Since the project has been a great success in Italy, we want to expand it to a European level. With RunChallenge Europe, we want to achieve the following specific objectives: 1.To increase the number of people with disability practising sport in Europe; 2.To open new inclusive running clubs in different European cities, building an international network that keeps growing over the years; 3.To train European sport and social organisations and professional in the management and implementation of inclusive sport projects. This will be possible thanks to the collaboration of 8 European organisations active in the sport, social and academic field: PlayMore! (Italy), AETOI (Greece), Dragones de Lavapiés (Spain), Live (Finland), ŠK Run For Fun (Slovakia), SCL Berlin (Germany), ARFIE (Belgium), Bocconi University (Italy).