Romania's Mamaia seaside resort will host a 24-hour sand marathon this weekend, aimed at raising funds for children with autism.

The marathon will be organized on April 22 and April 23, with 20 teams made of 24 participants being expected to participate in the event, reports local Mediafax.

The teams will be composed of psychologists, employees of Constanta City Hall, marine scouts, employees of Dobrogea Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and the Coast Guard, journalists, gendarmes, volunteers of the Red Cross, students, and fitness trainers. The route will have a length of 3 km, with the participants running in loop, day and night, in a relay race.

Every hour the participants manage to spend running will equal about EUR 300, money donated by the event’s sponsor. There will be no participation fee.

The race, which is organized by Marea Neagra Psychology Center in Constanta, is part of the Virtual Room project that promotes the rights of community integration of children diagnosed with autistic disorders.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com