This will be the tenth year that hundreds of people have pledged to run down phobias. The charity run to fight homophobia and stigmatization of people with HIV will take place on Sunday May 17 to commemorate the day that homosexuality was struck off the list of WHO mental diseases thirty years ago.

“This year’s Fun&Run has been moved to Žluté lázně and the new route along the river bank is quite scenic. There will also be additional programs for children and other non-runners in the popular sports grounds nearby,” reports the event organiser, Lenka Bártová.

What happens with the proceeds from the starting fee?

The number of registrations is crucial to our success: the entire amount will go to the online LGBT peer-to-peer mentoring website Sbarvouven.cz and to Dům světla for HIV+ clients (Czech AIDS Help Society). The starting fee in February is 300 CZK and will increase each month, so don’t hesitate and register as soon as possible! Online registrations for the run have already begun.

A new run category

Before runners could sign up only in the traditional categories for men and women, however, this year will debut a new runners’ division: the non-binary category.

Our route measures five kilometres, so those who decide to take part in the 10-kilometer race will get to run through it twice. The check-in is scheduled for 12pm and the run itself begins at 2pm.

Children can also take part in the Fun&Run. There is a special 300-meter route prepared for them. There’s no starting fee and every child will be given a participation certificate to take home later.

Fun during the Fun&Run

This is the first year when the brave drag queens of the Czech Republic will race each other on high heels. Plus, a wide variety of refreshments and activities, including a playground for children, will also be available on the Žluté lázně grounds.

Free HIV testing

Free testing for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis is an inherent part of the Fun&Run. Last year 141 runners got tested and all tests returned negative. In previous years, well-known faces such as the popular presenter Nasty and the actress and YouTuber Gabriela Heclová took part in the Fun&Run testing. So join the line, you never know who you might meet.

“The goal of the Fun&Run is to take a stand and show that homophobia and the stigmatization of people with HIV have no place in our society. This is the one race where taking part is truly more important than winning,” adds Lenka.

Follow our Facebook event to get fresh information. Fun&Run welcomes foreign runners and the whole event is English friendly.

The third Sunday in May is also the day of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, where the friends, relatives and partners of those who lost their lives to HIV or AIDS remember their loved ones. In the Czech Republic, we honour their memory by illuminating buildings with red light. Prague and other cities have pledged their support.