15th edition of our Get Even with Diabetes run took an entirely different shape. Due to the pandemic restrictions in force across the world, we decided to hold an online edition of the race - everyone could race individually, setting the goal and marking their participation using an app. We did not expect so many people to take part in the charitable run. Thanks to 16 000 people who bought our starter packs and donated over PLN 900 thousand in aid of our Personal Insulin Pump Treatment Programme for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, we will be able to buy almost 100 personal insulin pumps. The pumps will be rented out, free of charge, of course, to women with diabetes who are trying for a baby or are already pregnant. Personal insulin pump treatment helps women have healthier, happier, and stress-free pregnancies and greatly reduces risks associated with diabetes during the gestation period.
The Get Even with Diabetes is one of the flagship events associated with the Grand Finale fundraiser. The runners, who are clad in vibrant, orange t-shirts, take part in a family-friendly 5K race held on the Grand Finale's day in Warsaw. This year, however, runners took over the world - we've heard about people running in locations across Poland and the world. What is more, this year everyone could run, jump, bike, and even swim to take part in the race. To qualify your activity as a part of our charitable race, you should plan your race between January 25th and 31st.
2021 edition of the Get Even with Diabetes Race was truly a record-breaking event. Initially planned as a small, socially distanced sporting event, the race became an international undertaking with 15 887 participants, who ran to aid our initiative in locations as remote as the USA, Singapore, and Iceland. Overall, we recorded participants from 3 500 different locations in Poland and across the world. The combined distance covered by the participants, who could choose the form in which they completed the race, amounted to 130 932 kilometres, which equals the length of 380 000 football pitches or 37 times the circumference of Poland.
All money raised through the sale of runner's pacts, which consist of t-shirt, race number, medal and puff sleeves, will go toward purchasing personal insulin pumps. The result of this collection surpassed our expectations - we raised PLN 903 783, 72. It means that we will be able to buy almost 100 personal insulin pumps. To put this race's success into perspective - we managed to buy 100 pumps with money raised in 6 previous editions of the race!
As you already know, we play with everyone and for everyone. What is more, in Warsaw we play in a totally new location! For the first time ever the heart of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity will be beating at the PGE Narodowy meadows.
Traditionally, on Fridays just before the Grand Finale fundraiser, the GOCC Foundation hosts a press conference to sum up the preparations for the annual collection. Jurek Owsiak will present all our initiatives, actions, and activities as we prepare to celebrate another edition of the joyous celebration of kindness!
The 31st Grand Finale is not just about local events or the main concert in Warsaw! Each year we do our best to make it possible for everyone to join our Orchestra from every corner of the Earth!
