Running Toward Inclusion:25 Athletes with Disabilities Compete in Antioquia Red Cross chapter “Carrera del Siglo”
On June 14, 2026, determination, resilience, and inclusion crossed the finish line together as 25 athletes with disabilities proudly participated in La Carrera del Siglo. Held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Colombian Red Cross – Antioquia Chapter, the event demonstrated that rehabilitation is about much more than medical care, it is about empowering survivors to participate, build confidence, and reclaim their place in the community.
Thanks to the partnership between United for Colombia and El Comité Fundación, athletes with visual impairments, sports prostheses, and wheelchairs had the opportunity to compete alongside thousands of runners in this event.
A Partnership that Opened the Starting Line
This collaboration made it possible for:
- 20 athletes supported by United for Colombia
- 5 athletes supported by El Comité Fundación
to participate in one of Medellín's most important athletic events.Together, they demonstrated that sports can break barriers, foster inclusion, strengthen rehabilitation, and empower people with disabilities to lead active and independent lives.
Sport as a Path to Rehabilitation
For United for Colombia, sports are much more than physical activity, they are an essential component of comprehensive rehabilitation.
Running helps participants:
- Build confidence and independence.
- Improve physical and emotional well-being.
- Strengthen social inclusion.
- Develop discipline, resilience, and self-esteem.
- Reconnect with their communities.
Many of the athletes have participated in prestigious races such as the Bogotá Half Marathon, the Medellín Marathon, and international events in Washington, D.C. and Miami, proving that disability is never a barrier to achieving extraordinary goals.
Every Athlete, Every Story Matters
The race brought together athletes with different disabilities and remarkable stories of perseverance.
Visually impaired runners completed the course accompanied by volunteer guides who served as their eyes throughout the race. Athletes using sports prostheses demonstrated incredible determination with every stride, while wheelchair athletes showcased outstanding endurance and strength.
Each participant became a living example of courage, discipline, and the limitless possibilities that arise when people receive the right opportunities and support.
Jorge Iván: Running Beyond Adversity
Among the participants was Jorge Iván, a United for Colombia beneficiary since 2011 and an enthusiastic member of our running team.
At just 19 years old, while serving during a military operation in Sonsón, Antioquia, Jorge Iván stepped on a landmine that caused severe injuries and resulted in the loss of his right leg.
Today, Jorge Iván is a proud father of two, owns a small stationery business in Marinilla, and has transformed running into a powerful part of his rehabilitation journey. Every race he completes represents not only a personal achievement but also a message of hope for other survivors rebuilding their lives after trauma.
The Power of Community
The athletes were supported every step of the way by an extraordinary network of volunteers, family members, friends, and supporters.
Volunteer guides ran alongside visually impaired athletes, families cheered from the sidelines, and supporters celebrated every participant crossing the finish line. Their presence reflects the shared commitment of United for Colombia and El Comité Fundación to building a more accessible and inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to participate in sports, cultural activities, and community life.
Thank You for Making This Possible
The participation of our athletes in the Carrera del Siglo is the result of something much greater than a single race. It reflects the impact of the comprehensive rehabilitation made possible through the generous support of GlobalGiving and its donors.
Your support enables United for Colombia to provide life-changing rehabilitation that goes far beyond medical care. It helps survivors regain mobility, confidence, independence, and the physical and emotional strength needed to actively participate in sports, education, employment, and community life.
Because of your generosity, 25 athletes with disabilities proudly crossed the finish line at the La Carrera del Siglo. More importantly, they demonstrated that, with the right opportunities and support, rehabilitation becomes a pathway to inclusion, dignity, and hope.
Thank you for helping our beneficiaries move beyond recovery and toward lives filled with purpose, independence, and new possibilities.
