{"id":11113,"date":"2024-05-26T09:00:05","date_gmt":"2024-05-26T00:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zahnggiljah.com\/news\/26-family-walkathon\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T11:08:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T02:08:30","slug":"26-family-walkathon","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/zahnggiljah.com\/en\/news\/26-family-walkathon\/","title":{"rendered":"The 26th Family Walkathon: \u201cTogether, Not Alone\u2014Encouraging One Another in Life\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

On May 26, 2024, the International WeLoveU Foundation (hereinafter referred to as \u201cWeLoveU\u201d), led by Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, hosted the 26th New Life Family Walkathon as a gesture of solidarity with families affected by climate-related disasters around the world. The event was held to encourage recovery and resilience among disaster-affected communities while extending heartfelt support to climate-vulnerable neighbors at home and abroad.<\/p>\n

The 26th Family Walkathon: Wishing for the Recovery of Families Affected by Climate Disasters<\/h2>\n

Climate refugees are individuals who are forced to leave their homes due to climate-related disasters driven by climate change. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of 2024, an average of approximately 21.5 million people have been displaced each year over the past decade by events such as floods, wildfires, and droughts. Experts warn that these climate-driven disasters not only threaten food security but also pose serious risks to humanity, including rising sea levels.<\/p>\n

In response to the growing suffering caused by climate disasters worldwide, the 26th New Life Family Walkathon was held at Cheongna Lake Park in Incheon, Korea. The event was organized to express solidarity with climate-affected communities and to share hope for recovery and resilience. About 5,000 participants took part in the walkathon, including WeLoveU members and residents from Incheon and northern Gyeonggi Province, diplomats and their families from 12 countries stationed in Korea, and representatives from academia, politics, and the arts. The event was supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Korean NPO Coalition for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, and Incheon Sejong Hospital.<\/p>\n

From early morning, members arriving at the venue filled the park with shades of green as they wore matching green T-shirts symbolizing life and hope. Children holding their mothers\u2019 hands, along with members greeting one another after a long time apart, gathered in small groups with bright smiles and eager expressions. The atmosphere felt much like a spring outing, reflecting the warmth of family and the joy of coming together for a meaningful cause.<\/p>\n

Through the 26th Family Walkathon, From \u201cAlone\u201d to \u201cTogether\u201d<\/h2>\n
\n

Through today\u2019s Family Walkathon, I hope the message of living \u2018together,\u2019 rather than \u2018alone,\u2019 will be conveyed to the people of the countries we support as a source of hope and courage. Within our global community, no one is ever truly alone. We must remember that humanity is meant to live by helping, encouraging, and supporting one another. I ask that you join together in strength to cheer on and uplift those in need.<\/p>\n

Zahng Gil-jah, Honorary Chairwoman, International WeLoveU Foundation<\/cite><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In her opening remarks, Honorary Chairwoman Zahng emphasized the importance of extending help so that no one is left behind, underscoring WeLoveU\u2019s commitment to building a global community rooted in care and solidarity. In a congratulatory address, Nurgali Arystanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Korea, noted that despite remarkable advances in science and technology, humanity remains vulnerable to disasters. He commended WeLoveU for its consistent dedication to the common good and to the promotion of peace through humanitarian action. Yi Bae-keun, Chairman of the Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, highlighted the long-standing impact of the Family Walkathon, noting that a cumulative total of about 230,000 participants have walked a distance equivalent to 14 laps around the Earth. He described the event as a powerful expression of a mother\u2019s love reaching marginalized communities and expressed his gratitude to the members who participated in the 26th Family Walkathon to put humanitarian values into practice.<\/p>\n

During the donation board presentation ceremony, WeLoveU pledged a total of approximately USD 637,000 in support. Beneficiaries include 100 vulnerable households in Seoul and Incheon, Korea; residents of five island nations vulnerable to climate change, such as Cabo Verde, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati; disaster-affected countries, including the Philippines, Peru, Kenya, and Ecuador; and displaced persons and refugees across 24 countries, including Iraq, Jordan, and Ukraine. In addition, approximately USD 7,500 was donated to cover medical expenses for a Mongolian child suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.<\/p>\n

\n \n \"\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n

Helping Neighbors While Raising Environmental Awareness<\/h2>\n

With Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah\u2019s declaration, the 26th Family Walkathon officially began. Accompanied by distinguished guests, including diplomats and their families, participants set off along the scenic paths of Cheongna Lake Park, enjoying a refreshing breeze and the beauty of nature. Families walked side by side, parents lifting children onto their shoulders as they exchanged cheerful conversations. Children\u2019s laughter echoed throughout the park as soap bubbles floated gently through the air, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.<\/p>\n

At the plaza marking the end of the course, a variety of interactive booths welcomed participants. Beginning with an introduction to WeLoveU\u2019s Mom\u2019s Garden Project, which aims to plant 1 million trees by 2026, the booths offered diverse hands-on experiences. Activities included making keychains from sea glass1<\/sup>. and recycled fabric cords, crafting cinnamon air fresheners, and creating cotton candy using pedal-powered bicycles. Through these upcycling and eco-friendly experiences, participants learned practical ways to care for the environment while transforming materials into meaningful, personalized creations. The booths were lively and full of energy, allowing members to express their creativity while practicing environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n

1. Sea glass refers to fragments of broken glass that have been naturally weathered and smoothed by the ocean.<\/p>\n

Choi Yoon-hee from Seongnam, who attended the walkathon with her family, shared, \u201cI participate in the walkathon every year for the sake of the global community and the environment our children will inherit,\u201d reaffirming her commitment to continued neighborly support. Park Wi-gwang, Director of the Incheon Volunteer Center, remarked, \u201cHelping others through something as simple as walking may seem easy, but without events like this, it can be difficult to put into practice. For that reason, I am grateful to WeLoveU,\u201d adding that he hopes more people will join in supporting the recovery of disaster-affected families around the world through the Family Walkathon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":8513,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11113","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 26th Family Walkathon: \u201cTogether, Not Alone\u2014Encouraging One Another in Life\u201d - Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On May 26, 2024, the International WeLoveU Foundation hosted the 26th New Life Family Walkathon to support global neighbors affected by the climate crisis, as well as climate-vulnerable communities in Korea.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/zahnggiljah.com\/en\/news\/26-family-walkathon\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 26th Family Walkathon: \u201cTogether, Not Alone\u2014Encouraging One Another in Life\u201d - 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