Hospital da Luz, with a team of 185 health professionals ensured the clinical assistance to participants in the 34 th edition of EDP Lisbon Half-Marathon, which took place on March 9. This was also the opportunity to promote a solidarity activity: the kilometres covered by participants on the day before and by Hospital da Luz collaborators on competition day were converted in a donation to program Semear, which supports people with intellectual disabilities. The initiative “Running for a cause” (Correr por uma causa) was a partnership between Hospital da Luz and Maratona Clube de Portugal, the organizer of Lisbon EDP Half-Marathon. Along the three days preceding the competition (6, 7 and 8 March), athletes and visitors of Sport Expo were challenged to run on a treadmill available in Hospital da Luz space. Each kilometre on the treadmill, walking or running, was translated in €5 on behalf of program Semear. On the day of the event, a team of 47 Hospital da Luz collaborators participated in the 10 km and 21 km competitions, each kilometre covered also converting in €5. In total, the 779 km covered were translated in 3.895 euros on behalf of project Semear. Pedro Patrício, Hospital da Luz Lisboa executive director, and Carlos Moia, delivered the check on that amount to Nuno Carvalho, executive director of program Semear. “This partnership with Hospital da Luz represents more than just a race: for each kilometre covered reinforces our commitment to build a more inclusive future for all”, highlighted apropos Joana Santiago, president of program Semear . “We continue to invest strongly on Sports Medicine, on the promotion of exercise and healthy lifestyles, and we wish to stand by the best. That is why we continue to be partners in this event”, stressed Pedro Patrício, further stating: “Sport can also and should be an opportunity of inclusion and Hospital da Luz is always available and ready to contribute”. “The engagement of Hospital da Luz in this initiative demonstrates how sport can and should be a powerful tool of inclusion and solidarity. We take pride in this partnership allying passion for running and such a noble cause”, stated on his turn Carlos Moia. Official medical provider for the fourth time EDP Lisbon Half-Marathon is the largest track event in Portugal, beating participation records year after year. This 34 th edition gathered around 40 thousand athletes, 16 thousand of which foreigner, coming from 120 countries. Athletes started on Ponte 25 de Abril covering the two distances – 21 km and 10 km – to the finishing line, near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, in Belém. This was the fourth year of Hospital da Luz as official medical provider. The clinical assistance was ensured by 185 health professionals – among doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and emergency technicians – supported by 28 ambulances, 24 motorcycles with respective medical staff, and 12 bicycles. The main medical centre was located near the finish line, and there were also four advanced medical stations along the route. Overall, besides the team involved in the initiative “Running for a cause”, Hospital da Luz participated with a hundred collaborators in this edition of EDP Lisbon Half-Marathon. The collaborators with the best times were Tiago Castela (Hospital da Luz Lisboa imaging technician, with 1h 17m) and Mafalda Martins (Hospital da Luz Lisboa imaging technician, with 2h 01m).
