Fundación EDPNews

The event, presented at the Bizkaia Juntas Generales council, will start at the famous Old Gernika Tree and will follow the historical Oath Route traditionally taken by Monarchs to confirm local laws, the "Fueros". The marathon will start at 09:00 h on 30 January, and will cover a short 170-metre circuit.

This year the proceeds will go to solidarity associations such as the Sahara Refugee Camp, the Aunar Taper Solidario Association, the Stop San Filipo Association or Basauri's Adapted Athletics Club, among others.

The presentation was attended by athletes Javi Conde and Jon Salvador, in their sixth solidarity marathon, and the runner and journalist Begoña Beristain, participating for the first time to support and give visibility to the role of women in sports.

Javi Conde, who won nine Summer Paralympic Games medals between 1992 and 2004, is a member of the Javi Conde Solidary Marathons Association, and for the first time he is taking up the challenge of running a marathon on a short circuit in such a special location as Bizkaia. The association has already been involved in marathons in similar conditions at emblematic locations in the Basque Country such as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Bizkaia Bridge, and the Pozalagua Caves.

Jon Salvador has been on the podium five times in the Sahara Marathon. Like Javi Conde, he was also a participant in the last five Gernika solidarity marathons. Begoña Beristain, however, will be taking part for the first time.

The athlete has also made the Sahara Marathon podium, and recently ran the Sahara's 100 kilometre race in Tunisia for the first time. The race will be dedicated to Kepa Junkera, who provided the music for previous events, and is now recovering from an aggressive stroke which temporarily forced him off stage.