The 46th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon and the accompanying Nice To Fit You 10K were not only challenging athletic events but also a unique opportunity to do something good. And the runners didn’t miss that chance! Those running for a worthy cause stood out with orange bibs, wide smiles, pride, emotion, and often creative outfits. It’s time to sum up the biggest charity running campaign in the country – #IRunWell! In this year’s 10th anniversary edition, 808 participants collectively raised an impressive sum of 812,367 PLN.
Real Stories
The “Warsaw Marathon Foundation” collaborates with runners and charitable organizations to promote running for a cause, combining participating in races with helping those in need. The founders of each fundraiser are the runners themselves, who pledge to take part in events in Warsaw under the “WMF” banner.
During registration, anyone eager to run the 10K or the marathon could choose, instead of paying the usual participation fee, to start a virtual fundraiser for a charity of their choice. Creating a virtual donation page and collecting the minimum amount—with the help of friends, family, and colleagues—resulted in receiving a special orange bib, reserved only for those involved in the #IRunwell initiative.
– “Behind every charity bib is a unique and often surprising, but always human and heartfelt, story. The path to becoming one of our ‘orange heroes’ varies—some want to make a bigger impact because they already love running, while others aren’t sport enthusiasts, but their desire to help motivates them to take part. No matter how the #IRunWell journey begins, it draws you in! It’s the same for us! We’ve had battles for good, friendly competitions, a shared mission to raise one million złotych, and various exhibitions, films, and special campaigns… We’ve had 10 wonderful years, and there are surely many more to come! #IRunWell runners—you are amazing!” said Magda Skrocka, COO at the “Warsaw Marathon Foundation.”
This year’s top fundraiser from the marathon start list was Marek Wilczura, who raised 53,627 PLN for the “Spartans for Children” Foundation! It’s become a tradition for supporters of this foundation to dress as Spartan warriors and complete the marathon together. Yes, some even carry shields and swords in their hands! Along the course, you could also spot charitable unicorns, fairies, monks, dolls, and superheroes. While costumes often distinguish #IRunWell participants, it’s important to note that dressing up is entirely optional!
Among the more than eight hundred charity runners is Piotr “Sypi”, who has been participating in the campaign for eight years. Speaking about his motivation, he says:
– “#IRunWell because it’s worth it, I can, I want to, and I feel it’s an important cause. The beneficiaries of various foundations get the message that their situation matters to others. I run for the Rak’n’Roll Foundation because I have a personal vendetta against cancer, and if I can fight it even in this small way, I’ll tire myself out gladly. Helping doesn’t get your hands dirty, and if it tires out your legs a bit… well, running for a worthy cause definitely feels lighter. It’s worth believing in people!”
The event’s title sponsor, Nationale-Nederlanden, also got involved by boosting the top three fundraisers with contributions of 15,000, 10,000, and 5,000 PLN.
– “Thanks to the involvement of all participants, the #IRunWell initiative achieved exceptional results this year. As Nationale-Nederlanden, we are proud to have contributed to this action, supporting the charitable collections and showing that running can make the world a better place. We thank everyone who participated and encourage others to continue supporting the idea of running for good,” said Marta Pokutycka-Mądrala, Corporate Communications Director and Spokesperson for Nationale-Nederlanden.
Running for a Cause Feels Lighter!
During the 46th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon, 808 runners created personal fundraising campaigns, collectively raising over 800,000 PLN for charitable organizations such as the Empowering Children Foundation, Na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową (Rescue Children with Cancer Foundation), Rak’n’Roll, and Amnesty International.
It’s important to remember that the number of people involved in the fundraising effort was far greater—everyone who donated, including family members, colleagues, and fans, contributed to this year’s impressive total. The strength of running for a cause comes from the participants, who channel their social energy into spreading good. They promote their personal fundraisers among friends and on social media, where the campaign’s message can reach a much wider audience. Entire communities participate in this noble initiative, and the runners themselves go all out with creative costumes and ideas to draw attention to their cause.
– “This was my first time participating in #IRunWell. It was simply the human need to help others that motivated me, and since I’m a dad myself, the choice was obvious—I wanted to help children. I chose the Empowering Children Foundation. The fundraiser exceeded my wildest expectations—over 20,000 PLN! I reached out to practically 99.99% of my friends and acquaintances, who responded enthusiastically to my appeal. My family also helped promote the fundraiser, and I’m extremely grateful to everyone. The extra prize from Nationale-Nederlanden was the cherry on top!” said Filip, one of the “orange heroes” of the marathon.
The creativity of the runners knows no bounds, and we eagerly await the next event to see what they come up with to support the #IRunWell initiative. Fairies, mermaids—we’re waiting for you on the streets of Warsaw! Running for a cause truly feels lighter!
