Author
Katrin Fell, as appeared in Alpha1 Journal 2/2025.
The 5th. RARE DISEASES RUN The 2026 event will take place from February 23rd to March 1st, 2026.
You can now also register via the homepage.
Participation is easy: The run or walk is a virtual run. This means you run or walk wherever you like, for example, your favorite route at home, on vacation, or wherever you want. You'll need a smartwatch to record your running data, or an app on your phone that can track steps and time – a screenshot is sufficient proof. This data can then be easily uploaded to the Rare Diseases Run portal – that's it! It's a simple way to contribute to raising awareness for rare diseases.
There are again various running packages available to sign up for – from the online package (€10), standard package (€25), and the shirt package (€41) to the premium package (€55), there's something for everyone. So, if you'd like a souvenir with a running shirt, the "Shirt" package is the best choice.
The distances are flexible: everything is possible, from 500 m to 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, 10 and 15 km, up to half marathon and marathon.
Running together is more fun
Whether alone or in a group – every participation counts. Registering together with your self-help group can be especially motivating. Regular meetings every two to three weeks for walks or runs not only promote exercise but also foster mutual support – particularly during the often dreary winter months.
Since our motivation efforts last year were unfortunately much less successful than hoped, we are trying again for another year and hope for many more participants in the 2026 run.
With every participation, 44 organizations for rare diseases are supported, further strengthening awareness and solidarity for those affected. If you would like to specifically support Alpha1 Germany with your run/walk, please remember to select us from the list during registration and be sure to mark your ballot for us! We look forward to your support and to a successful Rare Diseases Run 2026, which we will be happy to report on afterwards and hopefully announce a significant amount of donations.
If you require further information or have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
