The 20th charity run marks the end of the Hagner marathon team's many years of voluntary work for the children's aid fund of the Idar-Oberstein Youth Welfare Office. At the end, Ilonka and Rainer Hagner were once again able to hand over donation checks for 2,650 euros to Lord Mayor Frank Frühauf. The marathon team will continue to organize the Felsenkirche stair run, which he initiated, for the city of Idar-Oberstein.
In 2005, the Hagner marathon team used its sporting commitment to acquire donations for the children's aid fund for the first time, which was founded in December 2002 on the initiative of the 'Kind für Kinder' association. 550 euros were handed over to the mayor at the time, Peter Simon. "Thanks to the fantastic support of our long-standing sponsors, we were able to increase this amount considerably," explains Rainer Hagner. Over the course of two decades, the marathon team has 'run' a high five-figure sum to support children and young people in need. Hagner attaches great importance to the fact that all of the donations have gone to the relief fund. They have always paid the entry fees, travel and accommodation costs for the competitions and activities themselves.
"We are grateful and proud that we have been able to continue our commitment for so long. We also have many supporters and friends to thank for this," emphasizes the Hagner couple. A good public image has also contributed to this, according to the credo: 'Do good and talk about it'. This year's Berlin Marathon was a worthy and emotional finale to the charity run. "Many companions and participants of the stair run were there and gave us a great send-off after 20 years."
Mayor Frank Frühauf paid tribute to the exemplary commitment of the marathon team. "Ilonka and Rainer Hagner have done an enormous amount for the city over the past 20 years and have supported our children's aid fund in an outstanding way." They deserve a big thank you for this, because "such commitment is anything but a matter of course." The mayor is also pleased that the marathon team, together with many volunteers, continues to organize the Felsenkirche stair run for the city: "This unique event stands and falls with this team." Of course, he will once again be the patron of the sporting event this year and will personally start the races.
This year's stair run will take place on Sunday, September 15, 2024. And once again this year, the running route will have to be slightly modified due to the demolition work on Am Berg street. "I'm already working out the new route," says Rainer Hagner. To prepare for the event, the marathon team will be offering regular running meetings from Tuesday, May 14, 2024. They will take place on Tuesdays at 6.30 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m., with the meeting point being the market square in Oberstein.
- The online registration portal for the Felsenkirche stair run at my.raceresult.com is already open. Registrations are possible until Sunday, September 8, 2024, the entry fee is 10 euros per run. Late registrations are not possible. Further information is available at www.marathonteam-hagner.de.