Pomigliano x Telethon

A city running for research

Pomigliano x Telethon is the charity running event that the Municipality of Pomigliano d'Arco, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, dedicates each year to the Telethon Foundation and research into rare genetic diseases. Established in December 2023, the event has grown rapidly to become one of the most popular sporting fixtures in the winter calendar of the Vesuvius and Nola area, filling the city streets on a December Sunday that usually invites people to stay indoors.

The formula is simple and effective: a real, timed, and certified race, accompanied by a non-competitive walk accessible to everyone. Those running for a personal best and those walking with children or friends share the same course and the same finish line, all contributing to the same fundraising effort.

The course: two 5km laps in the heart of the city

The competitive race covers the classic 10km road distance, split into two 5km laps along a city circuit completely closed to traffic. It is an urban track, fast and without significant elevation changes, which runs through the streets of central Pomigliano d'Arco and ends inside the Giovanni Paolo II Public Park, where the finish area with refreshments and award ceremonies is set up.

The double loop has an obvious advantage for the public: those staying on the sidelines see the athletes pass twice, and the cheering supports the runners throughout the morning. In 2025, over 700 athletes crossed the finish line, with impressive regional times in both the men's and women's races.

The Family Run and the day at the park

Alongside the competitive race, there is the Family Run—a leisurely walk designed for families, children, school groups, and local associations. It is the inclusive heart of the event: over the years, people with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders have participated alongside sports clubs, volunteers, and third-sector organizations.

The Giovanni Paolo II Park thus becomes the city's center of gravity for a day, with sports and artistic performances, entertainment, and activities open to all. In the 2025 edition, an inclusive multi-purpose track was inaugurated there, featuring athletes from the Italian national sitting volleyball team and performances of dance and figure skating.

Organizers

• ASD Kinesis Lab Athletics, led by president Francesco De Cicco, as the organizing club
• Angelo Marathon Club Pomigliano, a historic local running group, in collaboration
• Technical oversight by FIDAL and support from the Pomigliano d'Arco Municipal Administration
• The contribution of local associations, volunteers, and sponsors, who make the road closures and participant hospitality possible

A young but already deep-rooted event

Since the first edition in December 2023, the race has gained participants and visibility every year, reaching its third edition on December 14, 2025, with about seven hundred finishers and a symbolic donation of 6,000 euros presented to the Telethon Foundation. The 2024 edition had already received recognition for the organization's environmental sustainability, a sign of attention that goes beyond the athletic gesture.

Why it is worth attending

In a region like Campania, rich in food festivals and patron saint feasts, Pomigliano x Telethon represents a different way of coming together: no stages or fireworks, but a race bib, a medal at the finish line, and the awareness that every registration translates into a concrete contribution to research. For runners, it is a fast and well-organized 10km city race; for the families of Pomigliano d'Arco and neighboring towns, it is a morning of outdoor celebration; for everyone, it is a small exercise in collective solidarity.