Registration for the 11th edition of the Penny Marathon opens on 16 May. The event takes place on 10 July. The charity event to raise money for stray animals was launched in Greece by two Greek-Australians in 2012 and over the years has run simultaneously in cities in Greece, Australia, and other parts of the world.
This year the event will take place in Melbourne and Sydney as well as in Athens, Kalamata, Salamina and Larissa. In North America the event will be held in Vancouver, Washington state in the US.
The event is organised and run by volunteers and the organisers say on their website: “Participants run, cycle, swim, paddle and roll (and not only!) 42 kilometres to raise awareness of the plight of these animals. But it’s not just a marathon any more. We organise events throughout the year to get our message heard far and wide.”
For those not able to take part in the cities mentioned, they can register and participate in “solo events”.
Since its inception, organisers have raised $122,000 and contributed the money to 164 animal rescue groups and individual rescuers in six countries.
The organisation said there were over 1 million stray companion animals living and fending for themselves in Greek cities and towns. In Australia 60,000 healthy animals were euthanised each year because no homes could be found for them.
The funding helps towards the rescue and re-home process of rescued animals. In Australia money raised from the Penny Marathon was given to established charities to save animals from euthenisation and find them temporary accommodation until a new home is found for them.
* For more information visit the Penny Marathon at www.pennymarathon.com
