4 October was the date set for the 6th annual Yaşam İçin Yarış (Race For Life Turkey) event to take place. The event was planned to be the biggest yet…
…and then, due to the coronavirus pandemic, everything stopped.
Well, not quite everything…
This is an extraordinary year and the format of Yaşam İçin Yarış changed in line with restrictions to manage the spread of the virus. Click on the link below if you missed what’s happening this year.
An “Extraordinary 2020 Yaşam İçin Yarış”
Yesterday two extraordinary people put on their running shoes to raise money for this year’s event.
Ediz runs for Elsa
11-year old Ediz Eken marked the date in a very special way by running the 5km official route to remember his friend, 6-year-old Elsa, who lost her fight with cancer in April this year.
Ediz decided to run to raise money for Alice’s Arc, a children’s cancer charity dedicated to funding research into finding a cure and less harsh treatments for Rhabdomyosarcoma, and Yaşam İçin Yarış.
He was supported by a small group of family and friends, including Elsa’s Mum, Dad and sister, Amelia.
Ediz was accompanied by his sister Lara and Elsa’s sister, Amelia for moral support and he completed the course in 29 minutes and 15 seconds.
Have a look at how the morning went.
The warm up
Berkay and Lucy from Koç Fitness are your official warm up the entrants at the events and this year was no different, they came along to warm Ediz up before his run.
His family and friends showed their support by joining in.
One minutes silence in memory of Elsa
Elsa Florence McGee
24/06/2013 – 14/04/2020
Getting ready
![Two people, two runs and an extraordinary 2020 day]()
A hug from Mum ![Two people, two runs and an extraordinary 2020 day]()
Ediz checks his watch
And he’s off..
Here he comes
29 minutes 15 seconds later Ediz crossed the finish line to clapping, cheering and plenty of hugs.
Thank you to everyone who came along to support Ediz.
Last but very definitely not least, no Yaşam İçin Yarış event would be complete without founders, George and Chris Rimmer.
With special thanks to Berkay Koç, Lucy Joy, and official photographer, Norman Clark.
Pete’s Marathon
Last year, 72-year-old Peter Simpson fulfilled a dream to cycle 4,250 km from Ormskirk in Lancashire to Üzümlü. He didn’t just fulfil a dream, he also raised 13,000 TL for Yaşam İçin Yarış 2019. Pete also took part in the 5km event.
Click on the link below for details of Pete’s incredible journey.
Pete cycles 4,250 km to raise money for cancer
This year, Pete was determined to do something to raise money for the event.
At 7am on Sunday morning (4 October) as the sun rose over Çal Dağ, Pete, accompanied by friend Rudi Fischer, set off to run from Tuzla Beli to Çatalarık, a marathon distance of 42.1 km.
Pete’s wife, Rosie, met up with them at set points on the route.
First stop at Incirköy
Continuing down the Üzümlü road.
Just over 5 hours later, Pete and Rudi crossed the finish line in Çatarlık.
The end of the road
![Two people, two runs and an extraordinary 2020 day]()
Flowers from John Brett and a medal from Rudi ![Two people, two runs and an extraordinary 2020 day]()
Pete with wife, Rosie
That brings us to the end of an amazing day. But just before we go we’d like to remind you that you can still donate to Ediz and Peter at the Just Giving accounts below.
For Peter: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yasamicinyaris2020
We’ll be bringing you details of how much they raised once the monies are all collected.
#extraordinary2020yasamicinyaris
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