Since the second edition, it has been part of the Lubin Running Grand Prix series, later transformed into the Copper Basin Running Grand Prix. Each year, the event expanded its reach and increased its number of participants. At the first edition, seven years ago, 11 people stood at the starting line in Iwiny!
– This year was record-breaking in every respect. A total of 193 people were classified in the main race, with an additional 47 in the primary school and middle school category, making 240 people altogether!!! – says Dariusz Pachnik, the event’s co-organizer. – For the first time, an electronic time-measurement system was used.
The event has always had a charitable purpose. During its first six editions, it was inseparably associated with WOŚP. This time, however, things were different. Participants ran for Piotrek Kołodziej, and the race was named “A Little Walk for Piotr.” Piotr is a twenty-year-old resident of Iwiny whose fate has not only confined him to a wheelchair, but whose health also prevents him from functioning independently. He depends on the help of his family, who care for him. The love and care of loved ones mean a great deal, but unfortunately money is also necessary for living, especially in situations like this. Hence the organizers’ decision to help Piotr and, consequently, the entire Kołodziej family.
Runners in the main race competed over a distance of 5.6 km, middle school students ran 3 km, and primary school pupils ran 1 km. The main race was won by Tobiasz Belgrau from Lubin, ahead of runners from Złotoryja: Maciej Dawidziuk and Marcin Pawłowski. In the women’s category, Głogów residents triumphed: Urszula Olejniczak (Polish junior triathlon champion), ahead of Ewa Głowacka. Third place went to Anna Zaczyńska from Lubin.
In the primary school category, the boys’ race was won, just as last year, by Stanisław Pachnik from Lubków, ahead of Dawid Lachowski from Bolesławiec and his three-years-younger brother Jędrzej Pachnik. Among the girls, Nikola Rajchel from Iwiny proved the best, ahead of Wiktoria Kowalczyk from Szczytnica and Karolina Zawada from Iwiny. The middle school category was won by Jakub Serok from Złotoryja, with Patryk Rogalski from Lubsko in second place and Mateusz Waszek from Olszanica in third. The full results are available on the website of the Regional Sports Centre in Lubin: https://rcslubin.pl/imprezy-cykliczne/biegowe-gp-zaglebia-miedziowego.
– After the race, participants were invited to the best goulash soup in the world! – says Dariusz Pachnik. – Only ladies Bożena Zaremba and Aneta Piwowarska cook it in Iwiny. The quality of the soup is evidenced by the fact that the pots were emptied to the last drop, even though the ladies had cooked enough soup for more than 300 people!
The event’s goal was achieved. Nearly PLN 2,500 was raised. (Many participants paid more than the amount required by the organizer.) The moment the money was handed over was very moving. In the hall of the School and Preschool Complex in Iwiny, where awards were presented to the best competitors, the organizers handed the money to Piotr’s mother amid tremendous cheering and applause from all the runners. Tears welled up both in Mrs. Kołodziej’s eyes and in the eyes of many people present in the hall.
The considerable involvement of the local community in organizing the event was undoubtedly a success of “A Little Walk...”. – We are pleased that our community, especially young people, is becoming increasingly active in initiatives of this kind – adds the event’s co-organizer. – We sincerely thank all the volunteers, helpers, sponsors, especially the “Familijna” bakery in Warta Bolesławiecka, and of course the runners! See you next year. Or perhaps sooner…
Race organizers:
- Regional Sports Centre in Lubin
- Municipal Cultural Centre in Warta Bolesławiecka
- “Tukan” Iwiny Student Sports Club
- “Orientpark” Iwiny Student Sports Club
- School and Preschool Complex in Iwiny.
Dariusz Pachnik/ii