Great participation success at the 1st Rare Diseases Run
a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } On 14 February 2026, the first edition of the Rare Diseases Run took place under the slogan "Adding kilometres to research", organised by the Association Group of Rare Disease Patients in the Balearic Islands, in collaboration with IdISBa.
The event was a great success, with a high level of participation from people who joined this solidarity initiative combining sport, fun, and social commitment.
Rare diseases, defined in Europe as those affecting fewer than 5 in every 10,000 people, include between 6,000 and 7,000 different conditions. Despite their individual rarity, they affect between 6% and 8% of the population overall. In Spain, more than 3 million people are estimated to be affected, around 6,000 of whom live in the Balearic Islands. Most of these conditions are chronic, debilitating, or life-threatening, highlighting the importance of research and improved healthcare services.
The race aimed to raise awareness of rare diseases, increase public understanding, support research -with proceeds allocated to projects led by participating associations- and advocate for better healthcare services and patient rights.
The event started with bib collection at 9:00 a.m. and included a children's race, a 5.7 km running race, and a 2.5 km popular route open to participants walking or using inclusive modalities, encouraging participation from people of all ages.
Regarding the route, the popular category consisted of an approximately 2.5 km circuit, while the running category included one circuit lap plus two additional laps at the UIB cross, totalling approximately 5.7 km.
The first 100 registered participants received a gift, and the event concluded with a prize raffle. Cloakroom and refreshment services were also provided.
The race was organised by ELA BALEARS (Balearic ALS Association), the Balearic Andrade Disease Association, and the National Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Association, establishing itself as a key initiative in raising awareness and supporting rare disease research.
