The run that brings people together: solidarity at the heart of the event

The HOKA Semi de Paris is not only raced against the clock. With every stride, runners make a concrete gesture of solidarity, where the passion for running meets civic commitment. Thousands of participants turn their effort into positive impact, supporting causes that go far beyond the finish line.

A growing movement

The solidarity dynamic driven by the HOKA Semi de Paris continues to strengthen. This year, more than 5,000 runners (compared to 3,500 in 2025) will wear a charity bib presented and supported by AG2R La Mondiale. As a result, 5,000 fundraising pages have been created, helping to support more than 110 charities. To date, €1,018,459 has been raised — a record (compared to €1 million in 2025) — transforming every effort into tangible support for a wide range of causes, from health and inclusion to environmental protection and international solidarity.

Every kilometer covered becomes real action and collective impact, illustrating a new way of running, where performance, well-being and civic engagement come together to give true meaning to every stride.

Like Céline, who raised €4,840 for cancer research, or Geoffroy, who collected €5,315 for ALS (Charcot disease), first-time half-marathon runner Anne-Flore raised more than €1,300 for Enfants du Mékong, an organization she has supported since volunteering in Thailand. “I chose to run for a cause that deeply resonates with me and to share my journey on social media. By talking about my training, my challenges and my small victories, I create a real connection with my community. Giving meaning to my race motivates those around me — everyone feels like they’re running alongside me.”

The Étendart Running Club

In working-class neighborhoods, where sport is mainly played on playgrounds and city fields, running is often associated with more privileged environments and strict codes — performance, cutting-edge gear, ‘healthy’ routines. To change this perception, the HOKA Semi de Paris is partnering with the Étendart association, which supports young people from Paris’s priority neighborhoods by using sport, art and culture as tools for empowerment and confidence-building, through the creation of the Étendart Running Club — a banner for a more inclusive running culture in the capital.

This new club, supported by the event, specifically guides 21 young people from Priority Neighborhoods in Paris toward practicing running, all the way to their participation in the 21 km race, through an approach combining sport, art and diversity. Participants benefit from comprehensive athletic coaching, dedicated equipment and collective support throughout the program. Beyond the involvement of these young participants, the project has been designed with a long-term legacy in mind, aiming to unite as many young people as possible around its base camp in the 19th arrondissement — a vibrant, youthful and multicultural district that is also home to the Halle de La Villette, host of the HOKA Semi de Paris race village.

On Saturday, February 14, the Étendart Running Club gathered for a new highlight event at La Rotonde Stalingrad in Paris’s 19th arrondissement. This friendly and engaging moment brought together the project’s partners (HOKA, AG2R LA MONDIALE, A.S.O. and Étendart), club members, and a special guest: Bilal Bourazza, strength and conditioning coach. The programme featured roundtable discussions, interactive workshops and team-building activities. It marked an important milestone in providing young people with a new space for expression and in continuing to support them all the way to the HOKA Semi de Paris final race.

On Saturday, February 14, members of the Étendart Running Club gathered for a friendly event held at La Rotonde Stalingrad in Paris’s 19^th arrondissement. The 21 young participants had the opportunity to receive their HOKA gear (shoes, T-shirts and caps), which they will wear for the HOKA Semi de Paris on March 8. They also discussed their motivation and preparation — particularly in terms of nutrition and physical training — in the presence of representatives from the event organisation, AG2R LA MONDIALE and Étendart. An important milestone in the final stretch leading them to the HOKA Semi de Paris.

New in 2026: THE 1st KILOMETER, a solidarity run

As part of its commitment to becoming ever more inclusive and supportive, the HOKA Semi de Paris, with the support of its partners HOKA and AG2R LA MONDIALE, is launching, on the eve of the race, THE 1^st KILOMETER — an accessible, intergenerational run designed as a gateway into running. The concept is simple: invite runners to share their passion with friends, family and supporters, and give them the opportunity to experience their very first kilometer.

With no timing or rankings, this one-kilometer loop around the Grande Halle de La Villette can be completed once or several times in a festive atmosphere. Open to participants aged 5 and up, the run focuses on enjoyment, sharing and discovery the day before the half-marathon. Each €5 registration fee will be fully donated to the Étendart association as part of the Étendart Running Club program, encouraging young people from working-class Paris neighborhoods to take up running through the purchase of essential equipment (shoes, apparel, sports gear).

Information and registration available here.