On 16 June, while registrations are already open for the 20th edition scheduled for 8 May 2027, the founder of step by step S.A., Erich François, visited the premises of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde to present a cheque for €7,648 to its director, Sophie Glesener.
The friendly meeting was an opportunity to highlight the ten-year partnership between SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde and step by step S.A., which has donated a total of nearly €45,500 to the NGO through various sporting events.
The generous sum raised during this 2026 edition, raised through runners’ donations at registration, will go towards the children supported in Ethiopia by the NGO, through its sister organisation on the ground, a cause the marathon has backed for the third consecutive year.
The €7,648 will be allocated to a project that combines emergency response with resilience support. It focuses on an integrated approach linking nutrition, development and peace. The project has been implemented since 2025 in the south of the country, in the Moyale district on the border between Ethiopia and Kenya. This region is affected by complex crises and intercommunal tensions.
Planned over several years and supported by the MFEA, this project aims to address interconnected challenges such as food insecurity, malnutrition, fragile livelihoods and conflict. It seeks to help communities overcome the crisis and strengthen their long-term stability and resilience. Particular attention is given to young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the most vulnerable households.
In addition, peace clubs will bring together students from different communities so that they can become active promoters of peace. These clubs will organise socio-cultural activities, sports tournaments and inter-school artistic exchanges to foster intercultural dialogue in the region.
Peace clubs will bring together students from different communities so that they can become active promoters of peace. These clubs will organise socio-cultural activities, sports tournaments and inter-school artistic exchanges to encourage intercultural dialogue in the region.
Sophie Glesener warmly thanked the marathon organising team, the runners, partners, fundraisers and volunteers (56 of whom responded to her call, notably to help secure the route) as well as the many spectators present in the capital. Thanks to this collective support, SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde raised more than €22,000 this year.
The non-profit organisation is pleased to announce that it will take part in the 20th edition of the marathon as a humanitarian partner for children in Ethiopia. This promises to be an outstanding edition, with the possibility of a new participation record and an ever-growing number of volunteers and spectators from all backgrounds. This anniversary edition is already set to be full of surprises.
Learn more about the project supported in Ethiopia: