Joaquinesca Solidarity Run Returns to Bigastro with a Full Weekend of Activities
In the Vega Baja town, the popular Joaquinesca race—organized by Peña Deportiva San Joaquín de Bigastro—marks its tenth edition with a lively, community-driven atmosphere. On Sunday, December 11, more than five hundred runners are expected to line up for a morning that merges sport, charity, and local tradition. The event reaffirms its role as a festive gathering that brings residents together and showcases the town’s spirited volunteer network.
The traditional test will start at ten in the morning, with the municipal auditorium serving as a central meeting point at the outset. Participants will have two main distances to choose from, 10 kilometers and 5 kilometers, offering options for serious runners and casual participants alike. The morning program also includes a parallel youth component, the Minijoaquinesca, designed for boys and girls to enjoy a safe, supervised race experience. Officials anticipate more than 300 youngsters to take part, highlighting the event’s family-friendly character and its commitment to making sport accessible to the next generation. Registration remains open through Thursday, December 8, via the event website, asuspokpuestos.es, ensuring latecomers have a chance to join the day’s festivities.
As with every edition, Joaquinesca upholds its status as a popular solidarity race that channels support to important local causes. This year the event continues its partnership with the Remember Me Association, which assists individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In addition, the AECC Local Board is on site to advocate for cancer patients and to provide information, resources, and encouragement to families affected by the disease. The collaboration with these organizations underscores the race’s broader mission: to promote health, community solidarity, and awareness while celebrating athletic effort. Attendees are invited to learn about the work of these associations and consider contributing beyond the registration itself, if they wish.
Bigastro will transform into a centerpiece of the region’s running culture as the morning unfolds. Spectators and participants alike can expect a warm, supportive environment—bolstered by the presence of well-known local athletes who have long helped inspire aspiring runners. The town’s streets will buzz with energy as several events unfold in sequence, culminating in a grand final that brings together competitive performances and lighthearted competition. The social fabric of the day will be reinforced by shared moments of camaraderie, with supporters gathering around refreshment points and cheering squads that create a festival-like mood. The atmosphere is further enriched by accessible amenities for families and volunteers who are eager to help keep the event running smoothly throughout the day. Participants can look forward to post-race provisions, including nutritious broth and celebratory beverages, contributing to a sense of communal reward after the effort on the course.
Overall, the Joaquinesca Solidarity Run stands as a staple on the regional calendar, combining sport, charity, and community pride. It offers a platform for people from across the municipality and neighboring towns to come together, share in the challenge of the course, and contribute to meaningful causes. The day’s program is designed to be inclusive, with routes that accommodate different paces and an emphasis on safety, fair play, and family enjoyment. The event’s organizers emphasize that this is more than a race; it is a celebration of solidarity, health, and local resilience that continues to grow with each edition. (Attribution: Peña Deportiva San Joaquín de Bigastro; Remember Me Association; AECC Local Board for Cancer)