“Up and Down the Bridges” is a walk in Venice involving all participants – young people, adults, families, school parties and sport groups – in a stroll through the Venice calli (alleys), all together in the name of friendship and solidarity. Every year the money raised from the event, after expenses, is donated to charity. This year they will support the Salesian mission of Damascus in Syria, a significant Salesian presence in a nation plagued by five years of civil war. The Salesian community of Damascus represents one of the 18 houses of the Salesian Province of the Middle East also including Holy Land, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran and Turkey, in addition to Syria.
The attendance to this walk has always been very high in all its editions: from a minimum of 1.750 participants on the first edition to a maximum of 19.250 on the seventh one.
Over the years many folk groups and music bands joined the event.
Every year 10 to 12,000 people take part in this exciting day which couldn’t take place without the help of 600 volunteers working at the refreshment points and along the race route itself.
The Municipality of Venice considers “Up and Down the Bridges” one of the most important events in the annual Venetian calendar, just like traditional celebrations such as the “Festa del Redentore” (The Saviour), the Historical Regatta (Boat Race), the Carnival of Venice or the Venice Marathon.
Local authorities, private companies, banks and enterprises, thanks to their help and their funding, nurture this event to make it the success it has become in the city of Venice.
For other informations : http://www.suezo.it/en/