Hospice Casa Sperantei charity hopes it will reach more than 100 runners for its team in the Bucharest City Marathon, which will take place on October 17 in the Romanian capital city. This will be the biggest team Hospice has had for the marathon, almost three times bigger than least year's.

Those who will sign up for Hospice's team of runners will receive a Hospice branded running kit, free entry into any of the marathon races, free entry to the pasta party organized the evening before the race with all the runners in the Hospice team, as well as free entry to the post-race reception area, in exchange of a minimum donation of RON 500 (EUR 118).

The Hospice Casa Sperantei association has already received sign up forms from runners from UK and Portugal and expects other foreigners to join the race.

Several options are available for those who want to run in the Bucharest City Marathon: the 42-kilometer standard marathon (which has a time limit of six hours), the semi-marathon (21 kilometers, three hours), the marathon relay, for a team of four runners (10.5 kilometers for each runner) or the fun race, only 4 kilometers and a time limit of one hour. A 1 kilometer children race will also be organized. Wheelchair participants can join any of the races. The race will start at 09,30 hours.

Hospice Casa Sperantei is one of the charities that will benefit from 50 percent of the proceeds from the Bucharest City Marathon Fun Race.  Hospice Casa Sperantei provides specialist care to children and adults with terminal or life-threatening illnesses.

The Hospice was set up by Graham Perolls in 1992 and was initially active in Brasov. Every year the Hospice organizes a charity ball called Floare de Colt (Edelweiss). In 2008, the ball raised EUR 132,000 in donations.

Corina Saceanu (corina@romania-insider.com)