On Sunday October 20, Aviation Sans Frontières, a Paris-based NGO using aircraft and volunteers to support humanitarian needs around the world, completed the first edition of its AéroRun solidarity event, a race around the runways of Le Bourget Airport.
This unprecedented event was accomplished with the support of the entire French aeronautic community, which committed itself to the objective of “running to fly even better in support of great causes.”
AéroRun gathered more than 1,200 participants of all ages, with a strong presence of young runners. Twenty-two nationalities were represented, indicating the diversity of the engagement and support for the cause of the association. More than €200,000 was raised to support the missions of Aviation Sans Frontières.
Just five miles north of Paris and most famous for Charles Lindbergh’s landing in 1927, Le Bourget is the premier airport in European business aviation, rich of its economic and cultural heritage.
The airport’s runway 03-21 offered runners a fast and mostly flat course with only a slight elevation change from end to end, and with incredibly clear 360-degree views. This 10-kilometer course could well take its place as a must-attend race for national and international runners and their supporters.
Aviation Sans Frontières advances ambitious objectives through this event: to raise awareness among the broader public and raise funds for the acquisition of a flying hospital able to bring healthcare to vulnerable and isolated populations. Thanks to its supporters, the organization already runs multiple missions, such as humanitarian transport in Africa, supporting children needing medical care in France, and the transport of medicine appreciatively entrusted to flight crews.
“This event beautifully proves what we can accomplish when we unite our efforts for a common cause. Participants, partners, volunteers and runners, all of us showed how sport can be a means of incredible solidarity,” said Gérard Feldzer, President of Aviation Sans Frontières.
