Sunset Run For Refugees!!! (World Refugee Day)

What is the Sunset Run for Refugees?

It’s a run on the evening of World Refugee Day, June 20th, involving running and fitness clubs from throughout DC that will culminate in a special candle-light display and vigil at the reflecting pool on the National Mall. The basic concept for this event is rather simple.

Timeline:

7:30 – 8:00 pm

Runners/Participants Arrive at Penn Social and Organize into Small Running Groups. Runners will break down into small groups, based on running club affiliation, pace, or other grouping. All runners will receive plastic, battery operated candles.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

All Running Groups will form into a Single-File Line, forming “Caravan of Light and Hope for Refugees” that will proceed to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for a Candle-Light Vigil. The caravan will enter the reflecting pool area on the NW side and walk around the reflecting pool (interior area) in a single-file fashion with candles in hand until everyone has arrived at the reflecting pool area.

9:00 – 9:05 pm

Candle-Light Vigil at Reflecting Pool.

Once all participants have arrived, the entire Caravan of Light and Hope for Refugees” will stop and place their candles down at the reflecting pool’s edge and then step back for a silent minute or two of reflection for refugees around the world. There will be photographers and videographers on hand to capture the display of light and the vigil.

~9:15 pm

Runners Assemble at the Lincoln Memorial for Group Photo. Runners will proceed to gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial for a group photo. Runners/participants will meet on the very lowest steps forming the approach to the Memorial (down in front, very lower level) but will NOT gather on the monument itself.

~9:30 pm

Event Ends/Volunteers Ensure that All Items Used During Event are Removed.

***Runners will receive candles (of the plastic LED variety) to carry as part of a special running vigil that will proceed to the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Shortly after sunset (around 8:50), all running groups and runners will assemble into a

“Caravan of Light and Hope”

Our running Caravan of Light and Hope will then enter the interior reflecting pool area from the NW corner and proceed to run one or two laps around the reflecting pool with candles in hand until all runners have had an opportunity to enter arrive at the reflecting pool space and complete a lap. Once all runners have finished a slow lap or two at the reflecting pool, the entire caravan will stop and place their candles down at the reflecting pool's edge and then step back for a silent minute of reflection for refugees around the World.

There will be photographers and videographers on hand to capture the display of light and the silent vigil.

At the conclusion of the moment of reflection, all participants will gather at the Lincoln Memorial for a group photo. Our goal is to get 200 runners from around the city to participate in this event so that the candles we carry to the reflecting pool will help us symbolize the more than 200 refugees in the World today.

Will this Run for Refugees help Raise Money for Charity?

Yes, in addition to raising awareness, we want this event to provide tangible support to organizations working to aid refuges around the Globe. To this end, we hope that all participants in this event will contribute a monetary donation that will benefit the following five (5) refugee relief organizations: the American Refugee Committee, Save the Children, Care International, International Rescue Committee, and Doctors Without Borders. All donations will be processed electronically and provided directly to the charities through Act Blue, a nonprofit payment network. We will have a donation link on the event webpage that will be launched later this week.