Community Organisation of the Year
The Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Organisation of the Year will have made an outstanding contribution to the lives of others through their work and commitment to making positive change to their community.
This work could be in one of the following areas: disaster relief, human development, refugee assistance, civil society, equitable economic development, health, environment, education, population or public policy.
Sanctuary Runners – Humanitarian Organisation of the Year 2025
Sanctuary Runners is a solidarity-through-sport initiative that uses running, jogging, and walking to bring together asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and Irish residents in a non-political environment focused on positive action. Founded in Cork in February 2018 by Graham Clifford and Clare Keogh, the organisation has achieved remarkable growth and impact over the past six years.
The Sanctuary Runners model facilitates community integration by allowing diverse groups to get to know each other while improving physical and mental health through accessible physical activities. Operating under the principles of solidarity, friendship, and respect, the group maintains a strictly non-political stance that focuses on practical action and human connection rather than divisive rhetoric.
Since its establishment, Sanctuary Runners has expanded to 40 groups across Ireland, uniting local residents, migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through inclusive sporting activities. In July 2024, the organisation’s influence extended beyond Ireland with the launch of its first UK branch in Brighton, in collaboration with the Brighton Table Tennis Club, demonstrating the model’s transferability to other contexts.
In October 2024, Sanctuary Runners achieved two historic milestones. On October 19th, they organised the inaugural Global Solidarity Run, aiming to unite one million participants worldwide in support of people facing forced displacement and extreme poverty. This ambitious global event saw individuals from diverse locations—including Sydney, New Delhi, Pretoria, and Limerick—engaging in runs, jogs, and walks as a collective act of solidarity.
Building on this momentum, Sanctuary Runners made history on October 27th during the Irish Life Dublin Marathon. Their team of 70 runners included 25 individuals currently seeking international protection in Ireland, marking the largest group of asylum seekers to participate in a full marathon globally. This diverse team, with members from countries including Botswana, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Ukraine, exemplified the organisation’s commitment to inclusion and demonstrated how sport can transcend borders and bring people together regardless of background or status.