Following The Color Run™ 2025, sponsored by Baloise, the impressive sum of €5,661 has just been handed over to Sophie Glesener, Director of SOS Children’s Villages World, in the presence of the event’s initiators: Erich François, head of step by step SA, and Dr Christine Theodorovics, CEO of Baloise Luxembourg. The friendly handover ceremony took place in Leudelange at the insurance company’s premises, attended by members of their respective teams and volunteers who managed the Colour Stations during the joyful run.
Back in 2013, SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde received its first donation on the occasion of the very first Color Run in Luxembourg – a fun-filled event inspired by the famous Indian spring festival, Holi, which was already being held in around 200 cities at the time. Every summer until 2019, the race brought its vibrant colours to the shores of Echternach Lake, with the Luxembourg association benefiting from the proceeds to support its projects in Ethiopia.
After a few years’ absence, the “happiest run in the world” made its big comeback in Luxembourg, this time in the capital, near the P+R Stade de Luxembourg, with a new title sponsor, Baloise. On 14 September, the event brought together 2,436 runners of all ages and backgrounds in a cheerful atmosphere, sharing a wonderful moment of conviviality and enjoying the most festive 5 km under a shower of colours (eco-friendly, of course!) that rained down after each kilometre on the delighted participants. Last but not least, the run was followed by a lively Colour Party.
Beyond its festive nature, the event was all about solidarity. Following the run, the organisers, step by step SA and Baloise, invited representatives of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde, including its Director Sophie Glesener, on 12 November for a friendly get-together and the presentation of a cheque for €5,661. This generous amount includes €4,872 in fixed donations linked to registration (the organiser pledged to donate €2 per runner), plus an additional €789 in spontaneous contributions made by the runners themselves.
On behalf of the SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde team, Sophie Glesener warmly thanked the organising teams, volunteers and participants for this wonderful show of generosity towards vulnerable children around the world supported by the association. Currently, it is active in 15 countries through 27 projects in the fields of education, development, emergency aid and resilience: “We are delighted to receive this very generous donation for children and young people who need it so much. Thank you to each and every one of you. And thank you for keeping such events alive, where sport joyfully rhymes with sharing, solidarity, diversity and inclusion in a world that is particularly scarred and troubled.
Dr Christine Theodorovics commented: “At Baloise, we believe that performance only truly matters when it goes hand in hand with a positive and human impact. I am proud to support an event like the Color Run, where energy, joy and solidarity come together to bring colour to the lives of those who need it most. This kind of initiative perfectly reflects our conviction that, together, we can combine well-being, commitment and social responsibility.”
And the step by step SA team concluded by warmly thanking all participants for helping to support this wonderful event in aid of vulnerable children around the world..