The city of Dénia is preparing for the eighth edition of the Angers-Dénia Solidarity Race, an event that culminates with the reception of participating cyclists and aims to raise awareness for functional diversity. The celebration will take place on Saturday, May 30th, at 11:30 AM at the facilities of the IES Maria Ibars.

The association Condenados al Bordillo, which has been working with people with functional diversity for years, is coordinating the reception of these French cyclists from the association Entraid. These ultrarunners cover 1,400 kilometers in nine stages from Angers to the capital of the Marina Alta, with the goal of raising funds for organizations like Condenados al Bordillo.

Jimmy Higueras, coordinator of Condenados al Bordillo, explains that the reception is experienced as a solidarity festival, with the participation of local cyclists, scooters, walkers, and adapted vehicles from the Municipal School of Adapted Sports. The event will feature a performance by the Muixaranga de Segària.

The race, which originated in 2011, has grown in participants and in the amount of funds raised, which are allocated to various organizations working with people with functional diversity. For Condenados al Bordillo, this event has been a fundamental moral and economic boost since its inception.

Higueras also highlights the operation of the Municipal School of Adapted Sports, which currently has over 100 users and where six out of ten employees are people with disabilities. He emphasizes the importance of volunteering, although he notes a change in the profile of collaborators, with a greater presence of older individuals compared to previous years.

The situation for people with functional diversity in the Marina Alta region shows progress in visibility and labor inclusion, but significant deficiencies in infrastructure and resources still exist, especially for individuals with high dependency levels and their families. Increased public investment is called for to ensure adequate support.